Lunch with Kristoph takes the romance almost to first base. The only two things standing in their way are Marion’s shyness and Kristoph’s secret identity.

The Three Sisters by Chekov was actually playing at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds at the time when I wrote this story. It was exactly the sort of play I would expect them to go to see. It fitted perfectly.

The next date was more personal. Sunday lunch at his house was a real date, and one that assumes a level of trust forming between them.

Marion’s near panic when she arrives soaking wet and wants to run away again somewhat mirrors the reaction of ‘Rita’ in the film Educating Rita when she chickens out of the sophisticated party at her tutor’s house. Only in this case, Marion doesn’t have chance to run. The Professor brings her in and does the sensible thing, runs her a hot bath, gives her some dry clothes, makes her comfortable. The clothes turn out to be a robe which he tells her is part of his obscure religion, as is the meditation room she discovers. Marion accepts this, little realising that the obscure religion comes from another planet.

Of course, everyone reading these stories knows already that Kristoph is a Time Lord from Gallifrey. The side scenes where he expresses doubts about his reasons for being on Earth, and his relationship with Marion would be subtle hints of something odd about him if anyone didn’t know the truth. Obviously, this is not a mystery. The point is for the readers who are already in on the secret to enjoy the slow peeling back of his mask for Marion’s benefit.

The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams is a very fine piece of music and very appropriate for an afternoon like this one. It’s an uplifting piece of music. If you’ve never heard it before, try it. There’s a link below.

By the time she falls asleep on his sofa, they’re becoming an item. But this is a slow burning romance at the moment. It’s going to get hotter and faster, but not for a couple more stories.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lark_Ascending
http://www.last.fm/music/Ralph+Vaughan+Williams/_/The+Lark+Ascending