Wings of Steam

 "That'll be fine, Baron's still..creaky. Until we can get him looked at neither of us would rather push it. He's been...well..inactive for over sixty years.  During that time, I read every book on magic and theory I could find.  I could make charms for love and luck and heal people...but the only big magic I can do was with the doorways. Just moving one takes a lot outta me. Opening one when it's not close to time is worse..." He shrugged, and with Baron trailing, backed through the portal, leading Goliath and Warren behind him.

Sudden recognition blossomed on Ian’s face as Bobble started to loop the yarn like material. He knew this! He helped his uncle Norman with his knitting sometimes!

——-

Oh Matt looked so pleased with himself right now.

"Oh man that’s a long story, and I wasn’t there for most of it. Our reality is weird.”

And when he was saying that with a bird bot grooming him and a faebot entertaining his charge in the other room that’s saying something.

"Ian’s your son, our you. He’s a result of magic too, like the wings." 

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"I've got a son.  Wow!  Hey think about that, he's got a boy.  Imagine if we could go back into town again?  Find a sweet girl, maybe have a few kids.  You think Jon would like kids again?"

 "Everything's powered on magic here, with seers and magesmiths at the base of it all. " The blue automaton grinned, and moved from petting Warren, to gently taking Goliath's hand, and leading them all to that portal.

 He did grab a little basket on the foyer table as they passed, full of brightly colored ribbon charms. There were tins and bottles as well.

 Baron sighed. "Are you sure you HAVE enough magic for that right now?  Just move it...it takes less of your energy to do that."

 Rattles sighed, but nodded. The etching all over his body began to glow as his optics dimmed. Things rattled on the shelves throughout the house, almost like a small mild earthquake.

 There was a feeling of pressure, then it dissipated. Rattles opened his eyes and smirked. His body and core stopped glowing, and Baron had to steady him a bit as he wobbled.

"I'm not sure if I should be afraid, or impressed.  Is it safe to move it?  You already have, obviously.  But we won't get hurt going through it, will we?"  If they were, he was going to flip.  They couldn't stay here.  Even though they fit in, even though it was good for Warren, they couldn't stay here.  Bobble had told Goliath what happened when they stayed too long in another world.

This world would start to grow dark, spreading from the house.  The house, the tree house that they stayed in, would be the epicenter.  The world would become grey, shadows would darken and angles would become harsh.  They'd suck the light, color, and life, right out of the world around them.

The first thing she’d notice would be how dark and cold the universe looked.  Almost as though it were a grey filter, like someone tried to add color to a black and white film with a dying marker.  Deep stark shadows crossed everything, making the whole room look eerie and empty.  However, Mimic herself was still as though in her own world, with strong color and normal shadows.

It was cold.  If she could feel temperature, she’d feel how cold it was. That didn’t stop the spiders though, one crawling along the stairs over her head, another skittering over the broken and horribly dirty granite tiles of what had once been proud black and white.

He jogged over to the bot, then knelt next to him, trying to see if he was broken.

 Baron slowly creaked to his feet, wincing, and took a few unsteady steps before the gait evened out slowly.

 "I believe a small trip is alright. I don't think I'll be moving too far for too long, but as long as I have someplace to settle if I tire on the other side, I should be alright." He managed a small smile, and took another step, less creaky, more steady.

Rattles smiled, and moved to help steady his older brother, grinning at Goliath.

Rattles was leaning a little against Warren, smirking as he watched his two brothers banter. "I really do wonder what worked to pull you out like that...but I hope whatever it is we can do it again when you're ready. When I trance, usually touching me works, but then..I can't go as far away as you do."

Baron chuckled.

"We couldn't stay the night, no matter what he wants.  He haven't told the others, they'd worry."  He stroked Warren's head, before giving Baron and Rattles a rare smile.

"You’re a real jerk…" He said quietly, squinting a bit as he watched the other run.

The first thing she’d notice would be how dark and cold the universe looked.  Almost as though it were a grey filter, like someone tried to add color to a black and white film with a dying marker.  Deep stark shadows crossed everything, making the whole room look eerie and empty.  However, Mimic herself was still as though in her own world, with strong color and normal shadows.

It was cold.  If she could feel temperature, she’d feel how cold it was. That didn’t stop the spiders though, one crawling along the stairs over her head, another skittering over the broken and horribly dirty granite tiles of what had once been proud black and white.

He let go of Bobble, going back over to her and inspecting her again.

"Boy, I am sorry about that. I misjudged your ability. Thank-you for being here," he said sincerely, before looking up at the pole. "Wap wap?"