"How about the liquid moon of Purwoosha?" Clara heard, leaning against the Tardis console. The Doctor peeked his head around the other side. "Clearest waters in the universe. Makes the Caribbean look filthy" he grinned.
"I'm not convinced," Clara scrunched up her nose, arms folded.
"Clearest waters. In the universe. How are you not convinced?" the Doctor said, confused. "What if I tell you the liquid moon of Purwoosha also holds the 35th century's greatest underwater theme park?"
"Now we're talking," Clara approved. The Tardis rumbled, trembling as it was buffeted by the Time Vortex. Moments later, it hit the ground with a light thud. Brimming with energy, the Doctor bounced towards the doors.
"Hold up, Doctor. Can we breathe? How can we breathe if it's underwater?"
The Doctor stopped in his tracks. He held one finger in the air and rushed beneath the console platform, great coat whooshing out behind him. Clara could hear him muttering as he rummaged through the infinite number of things he had stored down there. She tapped a foot against the glass floor. A moment later, he returned, a silver piece of metal clamped over his nose and mouth.
"What is that?"
"Air filter. Sucks in the water, extracts the oxygen, sends the water back out again. Brilliant piece of technology. Just hold it over your mouth," he said, voice muffled as he slipped the strap of the filter around Clara's head. He gave her a thumbs up as she adjusted it. This time, she said nothing as he opened the Tardis door.
He stuck his head out. Brought it back in. Stepped over the threshold. Jumped. Turned back to look at Clara.
"Definitely not the liquid moon of Purwoosha," he announced, disappointment lacing his voice. Clara slipped the air filter off her face as the Doctor did the same. She stepped out beside him. Fog clung to the ground, making shady ghosts of everything further than twenty feet from the Tardis.
"So, where are we, then?" Clara asked as a pair of people went past in period dress. "The Victorian era?"
The Doctor stuck out his tongue. Brought it back into his mouth, grimacing. "21st century, I'm afraid. Pennsylvania. But, apparently there's a costume party! I need my top hat. Top hats are cool."
"How did we end up here? 21st century United States isn't exactly the greatest underwater theme park of the 35th century," Clara pointed out.
"I know!" the Doctor called from the depths of the console room. "Tardis must have picked up something. We should find out what it is," he emerged, top hat sitting upon his head. As they followed the path the couple had, Clara had the niggling feeling that the Doctor was dressed much more appropriately than she was. He hadn't been wrong about a costume party. Everywhere around them milled people in costumes so elaborate, it was hard to think that the two of them hadn't just walked into the middle of a 19th century gathering. Albeit a gathering in a graveyard. Somehow, Clara couldn't help remembering every ghost story she'd ever heard as a child. And Britain was home to the oldest, most terrifying ghost stories in the world. She felt eyes on her back and hugged herself. She'd never liked cemeteries.
"Who has a party in a cemetery?" she whispered to the Doctor.
"Isn't it great?" he wheezed, clasping his hands together. They came to a stop behind a group of four girls, furiously whispering to each other.
"We have to find Ali before A does," the tallest of the group said.
"Are we even sure she's going to be here?" the girl in a purple dress whispered back.
"A's sure. That's good enough for me," the blonde girl said, not bothering to whisper. "It's time to end this. I want to find Ali, and I want answers. Besides, the sooner I can get out of this corsage, the better."
"Corset," the fourth girl corrected.
"Whatever. Just look for a blonde in a red coat."
Clara glanced at the Doctor. He'd overheard the exchange too. An conspiratorial smile lifted one corner of his mouth.
"Lost your friend?" he said to the girls. Four heads whipped around to stare at him. Four pairs of eyes narrowed.
"Who the hell are you?" the blonde asked.
"Hanna," one of the others said in low warning, taking a step forward, like she would tackle Hanna if she launched herself at the Doctor.
"No, she's right. Who are you and what do you know about Ali?" the smallest girl of the group looked at the Doctor.
"I'm the Doctor, this is Clara. And I happen to be very good at finding lost things."
"Are you a detective?" Hanna asked.
"Hanna, he's a doctor, not a detective. But what kind of doctor is good at finding lost things?"
"Spencer's right. What's your real name? What are you a doctor of?" the tallest girl, in a blue pinstripe suit, demanded.
The Doctor flashed a grin. Clara could almost taste the glee rolling off him in waves. This always was his favourite part. She could have rolled her eyes.
"He's just the Doctor. Like he says, he's good at finding lost things. If you've lost someone, we can help," she stepped forward, interrupting. The girls frowned at her, sticking together. Uncertainty burned in their eyes. Whatever was going on, Clara had the feeling that it was a lot bigger than either she or the Doctor could possibly anticipate. In her experience, people weren't usually as suspicious of other people as these four girls were.
"Like hell. This could all be part of A's plan, for all we know. I say we walk away right now from the creepy doctor and his girlfriend," Hanna stated to her friends. Clara bristled.
"First of all, I'm not anybody's girlfriend, least of all his. Secondly, we're trying to offer help. Are all Americans so hostile? Is it in the rulebook"
The girl in the black velvet jacket laughed. "Yeah, we are; like you said, it's in the rulebook. And you're British? I was going to apply to Oxford and Cambridge, but after my Stanford admissions disaster, I don't think they'll have me. I'm Spencer. This is Hanna, Aria and Emily," she pointed to each of them in turn. She stuck out a hand.
"Oxbridge is overrated anyway," Clara smiled, taking the hand. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the Doctor's astonished expression. "So," Clara said, "tell us about your missing friend."
A/N: this is only intended to be a short fic. Nothing epic and sweeping. Essentially, a Doctor Who episode, featuring the Liars.