The Dancing We Don't See
Chapter Ten: Calling On The Angel Of Music
"What kind of a survey?" Shireen asked fully focusing her attention on the man in front of her.
"I'm conducting a survey for Young Miss magazine about the perfect first date." The Doctor answered giving them both a brief glimpse of the psychic paper before placing it back in his jacket pocket.
"A perfect first date, yeah? Well for our Rose here I'd have to say one where she didn't have to pay for chips." Shireen answered with a slight smirk in Rose's direction.
"A perfect first date? Does it have to be in this century or this place?" Rose asked completely ignoring Shireen.
"No. It's the perfect first date so it could be any where or at any time." The Doctor answered hiding a smile. The sense of adventure he adored in his Rose was clearly shared by her younger self.
"All right. My perfect first date would be a midnight picnic on the bank of the lake underneath the Paris Opera house in the year eighteen seventy with the phantom."
"Not the bloody phantom again." Shireen objected.
"My perfect first date, my choice." Rose said defensively.
"He can't be your choice for one thing we're talking about a fictional character and for another if the phantom was a real person they'd have him locked away somewhere. He was a freak and a nutter."
" He may not have been a pretty boy but he had a beautiful soul. Everything he did he did because he loved Christine. She was his light and life when everything else was dark. So yeah, the character's a little odd, more than a bit savage and certifiably insane but that made him all the more appealing. I like a little darkness and danger in my men." Rose said looking over at Shireen as if daring her to argue again.
"Have it your way, Rose. For me the perfect first date would be Christian Bale and a jar of chocolate sauce." Shireen said closing her eyes as she pictured the image.
"Thank you for your help ladies." The Doctor said holding out his hand to first Shireen and then Rose. As each young woman touched him the Doctor used his telepathic abilities to give them both one semi-hypnotic command to forget him. He saw something pass over both of their faces and realized the command had worked. Neither Rose nor Shireen would remember meeting him that day.
After disappearing from their line of sight the Doctor waited until he heard them begin conversing before leaving the area. He had plans to make and an old friend to visit. He was going to give Rose her perfect first date.
Back in the TARDIS he was setting coordinates and telling the ship of his plans as his mind went over all the little things that he would need to make this perfect for his Rose.
"I do have one request, TARDIS. Try not to land on the chandelier. " The Doctor asked as the TARDIS started to dematerialize.
"Erik will skin me alive if he has to take the blame for the destruction of another one."