Hello, wonderful readers!

Today, since I'm going to be busy for the rest of today and lots of tomorrow, I decided to write and post a little Doctor Who Halloween ficlet. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Just out of curiosity, is anyone out there in the world of internet going trick-or-treating dressed as a Doctor Who character, whether it be a companion, monster, alien, or the Time Lord himself?

God bless and have a great day (or night)!
ThePro-LifeCatholic

Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who, nor its characters. If I did, then I would try to make some Wholock happen by now. Or WhoVengerLock…could you imagine the Doctor and Kilgrave meeting up? Now that's something I would want to see…

Jesuslovesmarina: Yeah…I had sort of intended that reaction. I really enjoyed writing that prompt, and going into a bit of Rose!whump and Doctor!whump as well. I haven't written the Doctor and Rose all that much yet (surprisingly), but I'm fairly certain I was able to give this story justice.

QueenAnneTudor: You're very welcome! I'm still processing your next request, so just hold on. I'll find a way to make it work.

Lovemuffin: You are most welcome! Like I said before, I had a blast fulfilling your request. Feel free to submit another one anytime!

Writing Prompt #31: Costume Party

Characters: Rose Tyler, Jack Harkness, Mickey Smith, 9th Doctor, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, 10th Doctor, Amy Pond, Rory Pond (Williams), River Song, 11th Doctor, Clara Oswald, 12th Doctor

Shippings: Not really. If you'd like to imagine implied Doctor/Rose and 11/River, then go right ahead.

Genre: Humor/Friendship/Family

Rating: K

"Come on, Doctor!" Rose called, banging on the door. "Let's see what you've got for a costume!"

Ms. Tyler, Captain Jack Harkness, and Mickey (Rickey?) Smith were standing in a row, facing the door to the Doctor's bedroom on the TARDIS. They were ready for the Free-Candy Festival which the Doctor had mentioned, seeing as Halloween was only a few days away. And of course, one of the perks of having a time machine was that they didn't have to wait until October the thirty-first to start a candy collection.

Every one of them had gotten dressed appropriately for the occasion. Jack Harkness was dressed as a World War II army captain; he was wearing practically the same outfit that Rose and the Doctor had seen on him when they first met. He had considered an outfit with less…clothing, but his traveling companions had stood firmly against this proposition. In fact, the Doctor himself warned Jack that if he showed up to the party without wearing at least the bare minimum outfit-wise, he wouldn't be getting any candy. Period.

Mickey had chosen to dress as a car mechanic, complete with the grey suit, toolbox, and black smudges on his face and hands. And although Rose had her suspicions, her boyfriend was adamant that he had chosen his costume on purpose. It most certainly wasn't because the TARDIS had materialized unexpectedly while he was in the middle of a work shift.

Rose herself had decided to go all-pink. She was a fairy queen of some sort, dressed in a beautiful, yet simple, gown that sparkled and shimmered whenever she moved. The skirt ruffled out and twirled gracefully when she spun. Her blond hair was pulled back into a braided bun (her mom had helped with that aspect of the costume).

So the three musketeers of the TARDIS crew were ready and waiting for the party. And they were all eagerly awaiting to see what on Earth the Doctor would choose to dress up as. They had whispered amongst themselves, exchanging ideas and making bets on whether or not the Doctor would actually dress up, or if he had been pulling their legs this whole time. Their anxious waiting was at last put to rest, however, when the knob rattled and turned, revealing the time-traveling alien on the other side.

The Doctor certainly looked "smart", as Jack later put it mildly. Shiny black shoes were on his feet, with black pants, vest, and jacket to match. A crisp white shirt and bowtie completed the clothing aspect of his costume. But what gave the big clue as to whom the Doctor was posing as that night was the white half-mask that shielded a part of his face from view. In one hand, he held a blood-red rose.

"Oh!" Rose cried in excited realization. "You're the Phantom of the Opera!"

Jack grinned and applauded. "Nice outfit, Doc."

"Thanks!" the Doctor responded with a wide smile. He looked bouncy and happy; a mood which the other three rarely saw. He stepped forward with a flourish, nodding to Jack and Mickey, then offering Rose a sweeping bow.

"Now, my Angel of Music," he crooned, taking her hand in his own. "Let's see about that party."

"Right behind ya," she replied, following him to the console room.

"So what's he going dressed as?" Martha asked the red-head next to her. The two women were getting ready for a Halloween Masquerade, which was funded by UNIT. It was one of those few days where the hard-working members of that top-secret organization could kick back, relax, enjoy a drink, and spend time with their friends. Even family members could be invited.

Martha was putting the finishing touches on her own outfit. She had decided that Spectrum, a Marvel superhero with the ability to control energy, was the way to go. The Doctor had even supplied her with special props that lit up when she positioned her hands a certain way, to make it look like she was shooting white beams of "energy" from them. Even her outfit seemed to shimmer and crackle with power when she moved. Martha really had to hand it to the Doctor: he seemed to know what he was doing when it came to hardcore costume design.

"Oh, I don't know," came the response from the other end of the room. "Probably a stick insect."

Martha snorted, and Donna chuckled. The said ginger (and most recent companion of the Time Lord) was going as Beatrice, a character from the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing (the only play by Shakespeare that she actually read to the end and enjoyed)*. But tease as they might, the two women were secretly very excited to see what the Doctor himself would dress as.

"As long as it doesn't involve something way over our heads, I'll be fine with it," Donna noted. Martha nodded.

"Or as long as it doesn't involve a vegetable," Martha said. "Did you know that he used to wear a piece of celery with one of his suits?"

"You're kidding!" Donna exclaimed. Laughing, Martha shook her head.

"It's true!"

"Oh, now that I've gotta see."

"OI!" The Doctor's voice floated up to them from somewhere within the ship. "You're talking about me again, aren't you?"

"What's it to you, Spaceman?" Donna shouted back.

"At least we're not arguing!" Martha called.

The Doctor sighed dramatically from where ever he was, and the two women burst into giggles. Footsteps approached the console room, becoming louder as they got closer. Donna and Martha looked expectantly at each other. Here was the reveal at last!

"Hello!" The Doctor stuck his head around a doorway, then bounced energetically into the room. Donna's and Martha's expressions changed from excited anticipation to confusion. The Doctor wasn't wearing his usual suit, true, but he wasn't necessarily in-costume. He was sporting jeans and a t-shirt. His hair still stuck up wildly on his head, and red trainers were on his feet.

"Nice outfits!" he complimented, examining the handiwork of his companions. Donna and Martha continued to stare at him, trying to discern his outfit.

"Who are you going as?" Donna finally asked. The Doctor looked down at himself.

"I thought it was obvious," he said, gesturing to his clothes.

"No, it's really not," Martha commented.

"Really?" The Doctor ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "I'm going as a regular human!" he exclaimed.

Donna and Martha exchanged a look.

"Doesn't count," Martha said.

"What do you mean, doesn't count?" the Doctor demanded. "I'm an alien, dressing up as another alien. Totally counts."

"Not creative enough, sorry," Donna drawled, not sounded apologetic at all. "Go change."

The Doctor huffed and stalked out of the console room. No use in arguing with those two. Donna and Martha waited for him to be gone before collapsing into a helpless fit of laughter.

Amelia Pond unsuccessfully tried to pull a deadpan glare. "What on Earth are you dressed up as?"

"Oh, wow; thanks, Mrs. Pond!" the Doctor exclaimed, straightening his pointed hat. "You're so supportive. I thought you would get it right off!" He motioned to the long, wrinkled, grey tunic that dragged along the floor behind him when he walked. The sleeves were bunched up around his wrists; it was obviously apparent that the outfit was made for someone slightly taller and fuller than the Doctor. A satchel hung down to his waist, and a dark blue bowtie could be seen around his neck. He was sporting a matching grey hat, pointed at the end like a witch's cap. He glanced down at himself, then back at Amy. His companion looked as uncomprehending as she had a moment ago.

"You look like you decided to dress up as a sack," she commented, arms crossed. The Doctor folded his arms across his chest, frowning at his companion.

"No; that's completely ridiculous," he stated. "I'm going to the party as a Space Gandalf. Don't you remember when we were talking in the TARDIS together at night that one time?"

"We do that a lot, Doctor," the red-head pointed out. The Doctor was ignoring Amy's comments, however, and was now busily digging around in his satchel.

"And look at this!" he said excitedly, pulling a plastic lightsaber out of the bag. With a flick of his wrist, the green blade extended and started glowing. Grinning like a little kid, the nine hundred-and-something-year-old Time Lord gave the prop a few practice swings.

"Watch it!" Amy shouted, leaping back.

"And you think my outfit's no good," the Doctor continued. "What about your costume, eh? You're dressed as Santa, and it's not even November yet!"

"It's not a Santa outfit!" Amy huffed. "I don't know how many times-Look. I'm dressed as a Rockett. A Rockett, because I'm tall and I have long legs." She threw her arms in the air. "How come no one gets that?!"

Just then, Rory Williams walked into the console room. The Doctor gave him one look.

"Rory, just what do you think you're wearing?" he wanted to know. Rory stopped dead in his tracks and blinked.

"I'm…this is my costume," he began. The Doctor was already shaking his head.

"Noooo, Rory," he moaned (more whined). "You can't go dressed as a nurse."

"Uh, yeah, I can," Rory contradicted. "I have the outfit; I figured I would wear it."

"But that's your work clothes," the Doctor said. "We're going to a party. You can't mix work and fun together; go change!" He waved dismissively in Rory's general direction. Mr. Williams glanced at his wife, but she wasn't coming to his aid. Finally, with a look of defeat, Rory turned and shuffled out of the console room. The Doctor and Amy were alone again.

"You could change your costume," Amy offered. The Doctor sighed and sat down on the white cushion.

"Already did once," he said. "I was going to dress up in an outfit I had before – all bright colors and a rainbow umbrella – but River locked herself in her room and wouldn't come out until I had changed." He shrugged. "Not really sure why. I rather like the outfit; I think the colors would look good on me."

"Not a chance, Sweetie." River Song herself stepped into the room. Her curly hair had been pulled back into a ponytail, and instead of golden-blond, she had dyed it temporarily orangey-red. Her outfit could only be described as eccentric: a dark blue dress depicting the solar system of Earth and its constellations, star earrings, and high-heeled shoes with small suns on their tips. A green lizard was draped over her shoulders. Amy immediately knew who her daughter was posing as.

"Ms. Frizzle!" she laughed. The Doctor frowned again.

"So you know her outfit right off, but not mine?"

River grinned smugly, blowing her husband a kiss. Rory, donning his Roman centurion costume, made a reappearance. He walked over to the Doctor for inspection.

"Oh, yes, wonderful. Much better!" The Doctor clapped loudly several times, then rushed over to the controls.

"But I wear this every year," Rory noted.

"Exactly!" the Doctor reasoned. "And you look cool every time, Rory the Roman. Don't see why on Earth you would think it a good idea to change it."

Rory rolled his eyes, glancing at his wife and daughter. They both flashed him wide grins. The Doctor yanked several levers and spun a dial. The floor swayed beneath their feet as the TARDIS engine wheezed to life.

"Geronimoooooooo!" the Doctor shouted gleefully. "Next stop, Halloween!"

"Wear the hat."

"No."

It was a tense environment. The suspension was so thick that someone could've cut it with a knife by now. The stare-down continued; an elderly man with grey hair and a dark suit glared down at the obstinate brunette, who was brandishing a top hat. This conversation had been going on in the same fashion for several minutes now, with pretty much the same wording from the start.

Clara Oswald shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Her Maid Marian costume was begging to get rather hot and itchy, and a crick had formed in her back from standing in one position for so long, but she wasn't about to stand down. She held the hat out to the man in front of her.

"Wear the hat, Doctor," she whispered menacingly.

Clara could be patient, yes, but two could play at this game. Did a schoolteacher honestly think they could outlast a two-thousand-year-old alien?

"For the last time, Clara," the Doctor said, pushing the hat away from him, "I said 'no'."

But Clara Oswald was firm. She had sworn to herself that she would get the Doctor to dress up. And he had wanted to take her to this party, hadn't he? Yes, he was a two-thousand-year-old alien, but did that make him think that he could outlast her? She was a schoolteacher, after all. She had gotten loads of practice when it came to stubborn people.

"You want me to go to the party," she hissed, "But I'm not going unless you go. And in order for you to go, you have to dress up. So, by default, if you don't dress up, then you don't go to the party. And if you don't go to the party, then I don't go to the party. So if you don't put this on, then I'm not going to a Halloween party." After this lengthy explanation, she shoved the hat practically in his face. "Put the darned hat on, Doctor."

The Doctor looked at the black object in Clara's hands. Finally, slowly, he relented. Reaching out to it, he plucked the hat from the young women's fingers and placed it on top of his salt-and-pepper curls. Clara grinned.

"Satisfied, Clara Oswald?" the Doctor inquired, feeling quite idiotic. To his disappointment (but not surprise), she shook her head and held out another costume accessory.

"You have to take this, too," she stated, handing him the black plastic stick. With a sigh, the Doctor took hold of the cheap wand. Stepping back, Clara crossed her hands and nodded, taking in her handiwork.

"No matter what you say, this doesn't make me look like a magician," the Doctor grumbled.

"Yeah it does," Clara said, chuckling.

"Are you finished?"

"Yeah, for now, anyway." She turned to leave, but stopped and looked back over her shoulder. "You don't happen to have a deck of cards on you, do you?" she asked playfully.

"Out," the Doctor snapped, moving to the console table. "Or you can just forget about going to that party."

"Alright, alright; I'm going." Clara moved to the doorway of the console room. She shot one last look behind her. "Happy Halloween," she said, before ducking into the interior of the ship.

*Catherine Tate did actually star as Beatrice in a more modern take on Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. That's what I used as inspiration for Donna's outfit. The others are pretty self-explanatory, I think.

Hope you all have an awesome Halloween and/or All Saints' Day!