p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"It was a mistake for the Woodsman to speak so rashly, but this time it wasn't the Beast telling him that./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"There were no threats of his daughter's flame extinguishing this time. No (admittedly true) comments about how disposable the Woodsman was. No, it seemed the Beast had found a different method./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""Oh, would you REALLY, Woodsman?" He crooned deeply, those long, black piano-player's fingers of his uncurling. "Such conviction. My heart, still beating, straight from my chest. With your bare hands, no less?"/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"And the Beast leaned over the Woodsman, not seeming so tall and out of reach in the moment. And the Woodsman lost his strong words./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""Well, what's the matter? You might as well do it," rumbled the shadow above him./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"The Woodsman turned his head. He backed away. "Leave me, Beast," he warned, thinking there was some firmness in him yet. His authoritative voice did not falter to anything lower - but it wavered./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""What? I thought you said you wanted to take it out." The Beast began circling the woodcutter. "My heart. Rip it out. Nails, teeth, claws. Do it, Woodsman." He stopped directly before the man, spindly fingers grabbing at his coat's collar. "DO IT."/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""No. I—"/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""HURT ME, WOODSMAN," the Beast rasped. His voice splitting in his throat./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"There were no threats of his daughter's flame extinguishing this time. No (admittedly true) comments about how disposable the Woodsman was. No, it seemed the Beast had found a different method./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""Oh, would you REALLY, Woodsman?" He crooned deeply, those long, black piano-player's fingers of his uncurling. "Such conviction. My heart, still beating, straight from my chest. With your bare hands, no less?"/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"And the Beast leaned over the Woodsman, not seeming so tall and out of reach in the moment. And the Woodsman lost his strong words./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""Well, what's the matter? You might as well do it," rumbled the shadow above him./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;"The Woodsman turned his head. He backed away. "Leave me, Beast," he warned, thinking there was some firmness in him yet. His authoritative voice did not falter to anything lower - but it wavered./p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""What? I thought you said you wanted to take it out." The Beast began circling the woodcutter. "My heart. Rip it out. Nails, teeth, claws. Do it, Woodsman." He stopped directly before the man, spindly fingers grabbing at his coat's collar. "DO IT."/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""No. I—"/p
p style="color: #c93d47; font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; line-height: 13px;""HURT ME, WOODSMAN," the Beast rasped. His voice splitting in his throat./p
