#we're bullet proof until we bleed out western au

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My love of Big Valley is because one it’s beautiful in game, but also exactly where Ras would want to settle. Man needs his mountain air or he feels like he’s choking. 

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Sarah "nodding off... " probably with a medical textbook in her hands.

// Setting this a bit in the future from where we are in the thread.

They were all cozy in bed. Bjorn had fallen asleep as Ras told him a riveting story of magic and heroes. Even if the toddler barely understood what was said if at all. He was just happy to hear his father's voice. Now he was curled up on Ras' broad chest.

Sarah, was next to them in bed, well trying to sit next to them. She finally had found a position that didn't make her back hurt. All it took was four pillows. He was tempted to tease her that she should be so lucky her husband was doing so well they could afford so many pillows! But he didn't want to get hit by an angry pregnant woman.

She had been reading up on what was available to the medical world on women delivering twins. Helgi's daughter was here and also gave Sarah her mother's notes on twins. A less academic and formal read, Ras was sure, but possibly offered insight a man could not.

It was her soft moans that gave her away. It was not uncommon for her to rest her head against him while she read. He looked over and sure enough, her book was resting on her bump and she was fading into sleep.

Now was the fun part. Carefully Ras maneuvered his family. Gently moving Sarah onto her side and helping her groggily slip further down onto the bed. All while keeping a sleeping Bjorn on him. Sarah started to mumble about something but Ras just kissed her forehead, "Sleep Mausebär, I got you, ja?"

As they lay there in bed he looked up at the ceiling, stroking Bjorn's back while Sarah's bump rested on him for weight relief he couldn't move if he wanted to, but he didn't.

"Thank you," he said quietly to the empty room, "Thank you for giving them to me. Please, look over her, ja? She is strong. She has to be, married to me, but please Freyja, keep your gaze on her. Do this and I will rest in your hall when I go, for what that might be worth."

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"You tried to kill me!" -Brisco

The bounty hunter looked at the other man with an almost amused look on his face, "No, I was aiming for the man behind you, and considering he is missing an eye and has a hole in his head; I did kill him, ja?"

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"I haven't heard your name yet friend." -from the Lone Ranger!

The turned and was unsure if he should be concerned, laugh, or some form of both. Was this man wearing a mask? Did this mean he was being robbed? For the stranger's sake, he hoped not.

Ras craned the brow over his good eye, still taking the man in. A visible scar around Ras' neck acting as proof even the noose failed to take him to his gods. The scar over his right eye offered that it was the cause for it being milky, but the why when taking all of the giant in, was clear: this man lived a hard life.

He was in a weird legal limbo, the huge bounty he had incurred in his years was being paid off by his service to the law. Or they were using him as a free bullet sponge to bring in others from his former gang. If the promise of his freedom after is kept was anyone's guess. But Ras wasn't holding his breath. However, there were many who sought him out for vengeance. He had grown a reputation among other outlaws for being brutal to his own, and to those, he saw as dishonorable or against his idea of a code. Many seemed to struggle with what that code was.

"I did not know you needed it, ja?" he replied simply. His accent was odd, a mixture of something clearly Germanic and something else, and a hint of the American accent normally heard from those up North.

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‘ ‘morbid curiosity’ is a wonderful way to describe how i feel about you. ’

"That should probably scare me more than it should. I have come to learn your curiosity is a dangerous thing for all parties involved, and your attention is a double-edged sword at best. Yet, here I am in this run-down saloon with more eyes on us than there are people in the room, ja?"

The giant took a drink of whiskey before him and frowned, "And the drink is worse than normal. But I have to ask, what exactly about me has your curiosity?"

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‘  you make me feel safe.  ’

The bounty hunter grinned and pulled her closer against his chest as they rested in bed. It was cool this morning and Ras just wanted to spend a little more time with her before they woke and started the day. Mostly because he was not overly pleased with the weather of the South. He missed the mountain landscapes and the cooler weather. He kissed the top of her head, "I am glad, and you make me feel whole."

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"SQUISH!"

He had been gone a full week longer than he was expecting, which put him almost a month away from her. Something he tried to not do anymore, long periods of absence. However, the government still held his leash for now. Though it was starting to feel like that will be the case until they decide to put a bullet in him.

When she came running out of the small house Ras scooped her up into a tight embrace, "Sorry my Little Dove, you know how work can be, but I am all yours for the time being, ja? Promise."

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"You know better than to lie to me."

Ras sighed.

"I am not lying, ja?" he repeated for gods know for the what time.

"I think you got some bounty hunters sniffing on your trail. You need to lay low for now. I will handle them."

All this time trying to buy his own freedom and yet every time Lucio found himself possibly getting cornered he came running. Not that Lucio couldn't handle it himself. The man was more than capable. Possibly more brutal than even himself, but people always assumed Ras was the more violent one. An easy assumption mostly if you take into account that Lucio had a very disarming smile when he wanted, and a voice so sweet it ran from his mouth like honey.

But that was neither here nor there right now. It was better he make the smoke and divert the hunters from the actual fire.

[amorgansgal]

Oh Ras, you little cutie patootie!

📔

**This entry would be written in Icelandic**

I am not a wise man, or a particularly smart one, so maybe my surprise at how quick one can come to realize something is only tied to me. When I met her, I felt nothing, but I felt such a way about everyone. They thought I was friendly because I treated them like people, and gave them the civility all people deserve until proven otherwise.

But at some point, it changed with her, and now as I write this and look over at her rubbing her belly that is heavy and full of our first child, I cannot help but feel I should be holding her right now and not writing this. But where and when did this love become that? Love.

Some say it was obvious in her softness towards me, but I always thought she was just happy someone respected her intelligence and skills. So I think she fell first. But as I write that I think of the times I would seek a spot next to her when I did not eat with just my ancestors. How I smiled when I saw her walking towards me.

I love her, that I know now. And I love seeing her next to me, the heavy with the family we are starting, it upsets me that I can not find words in my this tongue or English to explain how beautiful I think she is and how much I love her. What mountains I would shatter for her. That I would tear the heavens asunder and raise all of hel, to keep her and our family safe.

On an unrelated note, she looks very cute when she waddles and when she makes her pouty face when she wants something but does not wish to ask me.

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The Völva

// @cajunspoons

It was late, the lamps outside had long been burning, and the drunks of the saloon had long been shoved out. The bar closing and the only patrons left were those with rooms.

The old woman shambled in, her eyes mostly milky, marking her blind or nearly there, but she moved with confidence. A large black dog at her side. When one someone tried to speak up, the barkeep let the animal stay. It was late and clearly it was there to help the woman so no harm done. If it had been peak hours he might have said something.

faded ink decorated her hands and a familiar hammer hung around her neck. She takes a seat and smiles in Segolene’s direction, like she knows something. Like she knew she needed to be there at this exact moment. 

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//Look at him! He’s judging someone. I love this so much!

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// @cajunspoons

It was still early in the morning so the saloon was slow, and Ras was passing through to visit before heading back out. Government had their leash tightened around him as of late. 

He was sitting in a corner soaking in the morning sun lazily watching the saloon girls get ready for a long day. One had to bring her little one to work. Ras’ heart broke at that, though he respected her dedication to provide her her child. 

However, the small babe had some pipes on it, as the little thing wailed in the saloon. No matter what the mother did the little girl would not be silenced. It had been so long since cries like that filled his ears. So very long, it felt like a lifetime ago, and in some ways it was. 

The bounty hunter stood and strode over, “May I?” 

Naturally the young mother was hesitant but she knew he was Segolene’s man and could give him some level of trust. So she handed the babe over to him.

Oh how much smaller she looked in his arms. Her wailing continued, but Ras simply smiled. Unaffected by them.

“Why are we crying? Hm? Lítil stelpa? Why are we sad?” he asked the babe gently, his deep resonating voice, lower and softer than normal, but still reverberating in chests near by. 

The baby girl halted her wails for a moment and looked at him with wonder. she had not noticed he’d picked her up. She whimpered as Ras spoke to her in his native tongues flowing between German and Icelandic. He craned an eyebrow as something occurred to him. He placed a large hand over the babe’s tummy and gave it a rub, sure enough it was what he thought.

“Ah, I see. No worries Lítil stelpa, we will fix this.” he cooed moving behind the bar to grab a rag. 

He tossed it on one of his shoulder and gently placed the baby there. He rubbed the babe’s back before gently patting it. There was a loud burping noise from the baby followed by coos of relief. 

“She might have a bit of colic too. Nothing a warm cloth and a rub can’t fix.” he replied.

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Did you see them? The men that rode into town? It was like looking at a starved wolf, and an irritated grizzly. They’re a bad omen I tell you. Men with eyes like theirs don’t go about quietly. 

@cicero-the-assassin

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(づ￣ ³￣)づ <3 <3 <3

Ras was sitting down by the camp's fire when he felt Lucio's arms around him. The giant didn't react at first, then he sighed and slumped a bit.

"What did you do and how long before someone comes looking?"

Not that Lucio wasn't physical with Ras outside of him doing something he knew was going to annoy the giant. But such was the nature of their relationship. If Lucio was being affectionate, it was because fire was about to be rained down on them.

"Do I have time to smoke before?"

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🐻

Normally when people think of bear hugs, they think of something loving, but in this exact moment that wasn't the case. Ras had the thinner man wrapped tightly in his arms, while he writhed, hissing that those behind them.

"Lucio stop," he whispered in his ear, "We will get them tonight."

Sometimes hugs were more to make sure your friend doesn't miss the chance for better revenge and not get arrested.

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i just like whatever’s expensive. (A material gorl)

The bounty hunter laughed, "Well that doesn't explain your shit taste in beer."

Ras shook his head and called the bartender over and ordered the best bourbon the bar had. Saint Denis was a place Ras would rather avoid, but the nicer saloons had an okay choice of drink; for it being American at least. He missed the mead house back in Wisconsin. Or the beer garden in the German community that was near the community he grew up in. The horrors that lingered there it was a cursed place to him, but some things weren't so dark.

"Only the best for the only friend I have in this shit whole of a country. Too stubborn to die, and too poor to leave." he was only half joking.