Disclaimer: I'm beginning to run out of ideas for what to put here.

BKPSDITTEKDLS

It was a calm evening in the North Pacific. Because things were looking to remain peaceful for the day, the Octonauts were settling for a quiet night in. Kitsune had gone up to Iwaki to spend the day with her family, Deborah was curled up to finish off the newest season of Intergalactic Imogen, and Dashi was holed up in her room writing out her fantasies.

Up in HQ, a humpback whale circled around the Octopod. Elekai, the only Octonaut present, pressed a button to open up the intercom. "Uh, hello," he said to the whale. "What can we do for you?"

"Hello," said the whale. "I'm Renee."

"Good afternoon, Renee," said Elekai. "My name is Elekai. I'm an Octonaut."

"I'm looking for someone to go for a swim with," said Renee. "I don't suppose you'd like to come?"

Elekai thought for a moment, and agreed. He needed to get out of the Octopod and do something. He skimmed the ladder to the Launch Bay, slipped on an oxygen tank, bid his farewells to Tweak and Captain Barnacles, and let himself out.

Outside, Elekai hopped on Renee's back, and she took him through the surrounding waters.

"Sometimes I wish I could go on land," said Renee. "I'd like to see France."

"I don't think I've ever been to France," said Elekai. "Italy, once, but not France."

"I once met a nice woman who told me about this beautiful place in France called Notre Dame," gushed Renee. "Oh, if only I could see it myself."

"I traveled a lot as a child," said Elekai. "My father was in the military, and we had to move bases more times than I can count." He paused as he debated continuing, and decided to do it. "I liked seeing new places, but nowhere ever felt like home to me. At the very least, I was grateful that my mum was always there."

"What about your father? Wasn't he there too?" Renee was curious.

Elekai furrowed his brow. "Not really. He was always busy. His work just made him…angry all the time. And we had to take the full brunt of it." He looked away. "I suppose it wasn't entirely his fault, but he still shouldn't have treated us that way."

Renee went up to the surface for some air. In the distance, she and Elekai could see the bright, colourful flashes of a fireworks show. Renee watched with awe and fascination. "They're beautiful," she cooed.

Elekai watched serenely. He thought of the night in Texas, where he and his mother watched fireworks at Mardi Gras. At that age, it was the biggest party he'd ever been too. It was one of his favourite childhood memories.

Once the last of the fireworks died out, Renee dove back under to deliver Elekai back to the Octopod. Once back inside, he laid down on his bed, content, and picked up his phone to call his mom.

BKPSDITTEKDLS

Information about the humpback whale taken from Whale Atlas

Information about Texas Mardi Gras taken from Mardi Gras TX