Firo had quite a few opportunities in his life where he could have easily lain down and died. The thought of actually taking advantage of them is chilling to him. But he had something going for him back then; a half-starved street kid with some close friends is better off than a half-starved street kid with no friends. Without the Gandors, would he have wound up like the people he's insulting now? He brushes the thought off with a firm shake of his head and a forced laugh.

"Hey, there's nothin' wrong with bein' a hard-ass. You're doin' 'em a favor if you push 'em to do somethin'." He doesn't mean it to be as cold as it sounds; sometimes it's enough to make people realize that somebody actually cares what happens to them. ...And then other times it's enough to bully and intimidate them. Whatever works.