the really fucked up, self-destructive way he went about going to Los Angeles —He had a paying job, he is working on a relevant degree, he could have rented a room somewhere
It's really telling that this is how he went about it. I think that at the point of moving out there he was in the best position he's been in for a very long time, and he's crashed and burned within, what, four weeks? And for reasons entirely of his own making - I mean, if he'd done the grown-up thing of saving up some money and renting, his past probably wouldn't have mattered so much. An actual landlord isn't going to care that much about someone's shady background as long as the rent's paid. But he didn't do that, and now he's probably living in his car. Welp.
Re: "I can sell you realities"
It's really telling that this is how he went about it. I think that at the point of moving out there he was in the best position he's been in for a very long time, and he's crashed and burned within, what, four weeks? And for reasons entirely of his own making - I mean, if he'd done the grown-up thing of saving up some money and renting, his past probably wouldn't have mattered so much. An actual landlord isn't going to care that much about someone's shady background as long as the rent's paid. But he didn't do that, and now he's probably living in his car. Welp.