"Come to think of it, where do you guys actually live?" Teto wanted to know. "Somewhere in California? I notice that's where the car is registered.""We don't really live anywhere," said Rin.
Teto's head tilted in puzzlement. "Why not?"
"Well... 'cause we can't," Rin replied, and then, with mildly dark sarcasm, "It's not allowed."
"We're kind of... caught in a bureaucratic loop," Gumi explained. "See, we came into the country as touring musicians, right? And then the Fog happened, and... some things got a little out of whack. The State Department in Washington is sort of barely working. So every year we have to renew our visas, and every year they only let us re-up the same kind we already have. Touring entertainers."
"So we can't establish a fixed residence," Rin put in. "If we stay anywhere more than 30 days... problem."
"But... that's ridiculous," said Abhi.
"Tell us about it," Rin replied with a hollow laugh.
"So..." Abhi calculated in her head. "You've been on tour for fourteen years?!"
"Coming up on it in August," said Gumi.
"And no one can do anything about it? What about Mr. Valentine? He has connections..."
Gumi chuckled. "Nicky's a private detective in Boston who moonlights for Section 44," she said. "He's a pal and a stand-up guy, but he's got no pull in Washington, least of all at State."
"We've tried everything we could try, believe me," Rin said. "We even risked a Fog bombing to punch an HW to Sapporo long enough for Miku-nee to send over a recorded plea on our behalf for the guy who was President at the time."
"I guess he's not a fan, because he didn't do shit," Gumi remarked.
Rin shrugged philosophically. "At least they keep letting us renew," she said.