"Oh. He's been taken for granted as part of the background but scarier, is what I meant."

"That makes perfect sense."

"I think so. Nobody says recordings sound different from my voice."

"If you're not sure and can find someone who wants it tested on them I'll allow the test, and if you don't work through recordings you can make recordings with appropriate precautions. Otherwise... the only person you can sing to without affecting them is me. Which I don't object to as long as no one else is around... and I'd let you sing when you're alone... but you'd need to be sure there was no one else there, so we'd need to come up with a wording for how you'd have to go about making sure. I suppose I could relax it a little if you can only compel potentially regrettable behavior by... phrasing things as imperatives? What's the actual dividing line?"

"Someone objected, or we would probably never have met. If you can find somebody who's willing to be a test subject, we can figure out the details of what has to happen to have unpleasant consequences, and then you should come up with a way to make really, really sure that absolutely everyone in earshot of a show wants to be there, and then I can revise the orders. But I'm sure you realize that there would be ramifications if people thought I didn't have a clear and absolute guarantee of safety for anyone I'm taking responsibility for."

"Oh, you don't have to take responsibility for me now. They acquitted me, it's not like I committed a crime and they're using orders instead of a prison."

"I have a spotty understanding of the mortal justice system and don't think you currently qualify as a disinterested explainer. Also, I have non-legal reasons to want to be careful."

"If that's what it takes to convince you, I'm sure I can find someone to test it."

"I didn't pick it to be difficult. I don't mind you holding concerts as long as everyone is fine with the background-level effect of the power and there's a way to be sure there won't be any more accidents."

"I have time, I'd be waiting a bit for the headlines to drop off even if you had removed the order right away. If it's dangerous...what did you have in mind?"

"Fairyland stuff. Even going to Fairyland is risky for a mortal. But for here - I can't really go shopping without exposing random people to risks they are perfectly reasonable not to want to take, and if I order things on the internet I need an address. I can't go shopping for an address either. I sort of loiter around the local PRT building, but I don't actually work for them and trying to receive mail there is not my first choice. I have money and I think I know how to authorize you to use it."

"I'd like to be able to access it from a roof or window without having to fuss with going near random mortal passersby. A short flight from the PRT building. Able to receive mail - I think that comes standard? I don't really care how much it costs because my source of money is 'if I run out, the Protectorate has to top me off or I close one of their gatepairs', but I also don't have a use for anything ostentatious or huge; I'm not planning to live there." She pauses, then says: "I don't want my Fairyland projects to be generally known. I can tell you more about the risks involved if you're willing to be ordered to secrecy."

"I can still say no, right, if it's too risky?"

"Yes. Well, to helping, not to the secrecy thing, there your options are 'don't be told' or 'don't tell'."

"Then yes, I don't mind having to keep a secret."

"I'm sure. No one pays attention to rooftops."

"Thought so. Worth checking. So, I'm not a parahuman. I am sort of a cape, but fairies are generically very different from humans. The orders thing is not a power I have. It is a trait fairies have. And fairies can be vassals, too."