Page 22 of Hollow

“Oh, I deleted the trash comments ahead of time,” Jack said. “Not that you couldn’t handle it, but it’s a lot to take in—and there’s a joke somewhere. But I figured this way we could slowly roll you out to the crazy of the world.”

“I prefer slow.”

Jack’s eyes twisted into something minxy, which made Dimitri’s face burn. “There’s another joke there.”

“You have many jokes, it seems.”

“Only bad ones.”

“I like bad jokes,” Dimitri said with a sultry gruffness to his voice as he leaned closer to Jack.

Whether from all the very vivid comments or perhaps all the kindness Jack had shown him as of late, Dimitri found himself interested in exploring the fascination humans had with monsters.

Jack jumped up from the bench, a bit flustered as he stepped away. “Well, I have a ton of stuff I have to get done before tonight’s show.”

“Oh, yes, the Halloween performance.” Dimitri nodded.

“Yeah.” Jack smiled. “Have you considered attending?”

“I do not know what I would wear.”

Jack chuckled. “You don’t have to wear anything. I don’t.”

“You perform in the nude?” Dimitri asked with a raised brow. “I thought you said that was not allowed online, and this performance will be uploaded onto the internet.”

“No, not like that. I mean, when I said you don’t have to wear anything, I meant like you don’t have to dress up in a costume. Um, my costume is just me. Pumpkin head, gray skin, shadow stitching, and bam. I’m my glorious monstrous self.”

“Oh, I see. So, I can just be a Leshy for Halloween.”

“Exactly.”

“Do I have to be in the videos?”

“Not unless you want to be.”

“Perhaps in the future. I am not ready to be objectified by humans quite yet. And thirst traps are difficult.”

“You didn’t make a thirst trap. Trust me, if you had, the comments wouldn’t have been so tame.”

“Oh, my.” Dimitri blushed. “I will prepare myself for the future.”

“Speaking of, if you’re going to be in more posts, we’ll need to come up with a name for you.”

“I am Dimitri,” he said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“No, like I’m Jack, but online I’m Jack Whoa Lantern.” Jack did a little shake with his hips that seemingly entranced Dimitri. “You’ll want to come up with a catchy name before someone in the comments makes one that sticks. Right now, it looks like you might end up called Deer Daddy or Buck Shot.”

“I do not like those names.”

“Exactly, so start thinking of a better name.”

Dimitri sighed, and Jack went inside.

The crows above cawed, one swooping in to join Dimitri now that his attention would not be split between them and the phone.

“Ah, yes, Nikolai, I have not forgotten you.” Dimitri reached for the bag of seeds and began tossing them across the front yard.

Crows flew down between the overgrown grass and patches of dirt as they feasted. Nikolai remained perched on Dimitri’s antlers.