"Weiss Blood? Are you some sort of vampire?" the bald man quipped as he counted the dollar bills WeissBlood handed him. He didn't even bother to look up to meet his new tenant's gaze as the menial task of counting commanded much more attention from him. 

"Funny, I've never heard of that one before," Weiss replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He rolled his eyes and continued to gaze intensely at the bald man's direction. 

Weiss's answer managed to snap the bald man out of his rhythm and got him to meet Weiss's gaze. ​​​​​​"I'm sorry. I tried my best, okay? Just trying to build up a good rapport with my new tenants. I thought the pun would help," he replied with a frown as he turned back to his hands and resumed the counting.

"It would've helped if I haven't heard that a few hundred times before, I suppose."

"Right...well, at least, it's refreshing to have a tenant like you 'round these parts," the bald man smiled, not bothering to look up.

"How so?" Weiss inquired, noticing the man was halfway through his counting. 

"Out of all of these people down on their luck renting spaces in my tenements, you're the only one who's not sucking up to me. Everyone else act nice and try their best to get on my good side to get an extension or a discount while you, my friend," he momentarily paused from counting to point at Weiss, ​​​​​​"still treat me as an equal and I respect that." After a second of pointing, he resumed to count what's left of the money. 

"I'm not sticking around. Once I get a steady job, I'm moving to somewhere better in this city. This isn't a part of my long-term plans, I'm afraid," Weiss asserted calmly as he crossed his arms. 

"HAHAHAHA" the bald man chuckled heartily, still focused on counting, "somewhere better? Lucky Reggie's Tenement Complex is the ONLY TENEMENT IN CHICAGO WITHOUT MULTIPLE HEALTH CODE VIOLATIONS. Sorry to break it to ya but this place is as good as it gets, in this city anyway. That is unless your plans involve someplace else?"

"I've prospected in the West, begged on the streets of New Orleans and survived a snowstorm in Boston. I just want to settle in a place for once," Weiss replied as a grimace spread across his face as past memories of hardships flooded back. 

When he was sure they were the correct amount, the bald man stuffed the bills into a brown envelope which he placed on top of his office table behind him. He grabbed something from his right pocket and walked towards WeissBlood.

"Then I'll be seeing you around for a while, better put 'getting used to my landlord's mug' on your so-called plans," the bald man retorted as he dropped Weiss's new room keys into the breast pocket of Weiss's shirt.

This was Weiss's cue to leave the landlord's office and check into his new room which he did. It was a nice place with middling furniture and a view overlooking most of the city. He unpacked his luggage into the different drawers and cabinets before he slumped into his bed. He wanted to pass out and take a breather yet the bald landlord's remarks and his memories panhandling through most of America still lingered in his mind. In spite of this, it didn't take an hour before he was out cold.