Drake was in human form as he answered the door at 11 a.m. Right on time. As he opened the door, this time, he let it swing open.
The landlord stood in the hallway, looking as he normally did. “You called me? What’s wrong?”
“I wanted to show you something,” he said, and stepped aside.
The landlord came forward. He paused at the threshold and looked in. “What’s all these boxes?
Drake turned around and sighed. “I have an extensive collection of Transformers.”
“They’re in all these boxes?” He touched one that looked precariously like it was going to fall into the path they were walking on. “You know this is unsafe.”
“I know, and that’s why I didn’t let you in before.”
“You carry this collection everywhere you go?”
Drake nodded. “Everywhere.”
The landlord looked at the floor, “They’re blocking the heat. That’s a fire hazard too.”
Drake sighed again. Minute changes in temperature never truly bothered him. To him, ten degrees was considered minute.
“Look,” said the landlord, “I can see you need space. I have a bigger apartment if you’re interested. In the same building that I own.”
“You do?”
He nodded, “With a huge extra room that you can put your stuff in.” He looked around again, shaking his head. “You can’t live like this. I’ll get condemned.”
“I’m sorry,” Drake said, looking down.
“It’ll be a hundred dollars more a month, though. Can you afford it?”
His father was paying for it. His father had always told him to find a place with enough space – when he got this apartment, it was empty. He hadn’t realized how much stuff he actually had. However, considering he owned a quarter of a warehouse in Paragon City where he stacked his stuff, he should have known better.
“I can afford it.”
Again, he shook his head. “All right Now, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Someone’s tapping into my line, which is why it looks like I’m using more electricity than I am.”
“What?”
“Come downstairs.”
Drake brought the landlord downstairs. With a flashlight, they were able to see the stripped screw. “Shit,” the landlord said in Spanish, “I’ll have to get an electrician down here to find out who.”
Drake nodded. “By the way, when can I move into the new place?”
“Give me a deposit now, you can start moving today.”
“How much?”
“Two hundred.”
“I have that,” he said, even though that would clean him out of most of his cash. It meant he had something like fifty dollars left. “One second.”
Drake went back to his apartment and went into his cookie jar, pulling out the money. He counted it out, and brought it to the landlord, who counted it again and pocketed it. “You gonna get help with these boxes?”
“I’ll rent a truck,” he said.
“It’s only a few blocks away.”
Drake laughed, “I’ve done this a few times, sir. I know it’s hard to carry boxes through the city from one place to another.”
“Suit yourself, then. Come to the apartment on the first floor to get the key.”
Drake watched him leave, and then smiled. He patted the box nearest the door. “We’re going to a better place,” he said.