The introduction to Angel and Darwin went rather smoothly, to a point, Angel was a dancer, she didn't exactly go into too much detail of what that entailed; but the general gist that Liesel got, was that she worked as an exotic dancer in a club something. Although it was laughable to think of Charles in this scenario, he was too polite, and slightly innocent looking that Liesel wasn't certain whether Charles would know where to look without growing embarrassed, however, Erik. That was something which Liesel felt herself slightly dwelling over. It left a rather bitter feeling to bubble about in her stomach as she looked at the dark haired girl. Darwin however, Liesel found him lovely. He was finding everything so shocking, yet amazing and was honestly so laid back and relaxed that his disposition was contagious. For the first time, in ages, Liesel felt herself being relaxed too.

"So have you been here for long?" Darwin had asked curiously while lifting and crossing his leg over the over.

"A day, if that." Liesel replied. "Truth be told I did leave."

Darwin looked at her curiously while drinking from the cola bottle in his hands. "Yet you came back, why?" He was curious about those that were now surrounding him. The fact that he got told there would be others caused him to be even more curious. He didn't even know there was this small handful of people like him, let alone others.

"She came back because Erik came back." Raven laughed and teased Liesel who was silent and thinking of a reasonable answer. Beside the blonde, Angel seemed to laugh quietly, only her laughter wasn't one of teasing like Raven's was. It was a laugh that seemed sarcastic. Liesel's silence did nothing for her defence as they laughed even more thinking they were right. They were right, of course but that wasn't the point.

"Oh, so you two...are...?" Darwin's dark eyes widened as he gestured a hand in the air, trying to think of the best way to just come out and ask if they were together.

"What?!" Liesel exclaimed with a frown as she looked to Darwin, and what he was suggesting. "No." She said firmly. They were not like that.

"So you came back for other reasons that don't involve him?" Darwin asked interestedly. Truth be told he, Raven and Angel had been getting along with introductions when Erik and Liesel suddenly appeared in the room. After a few glances sent in each other's direction, Erik gave her a look and left. It was the look of: don't do anything stupid. Which warranted in Darwin believing she may be a little mischievous. But seeing as how she sat silent and frowning gently, he was beginning to think otherwise.

"I came back to put a stop to something." Liesel's enigmatic response caused looks to be exchanged by the other three in the room. Not that she particularly cared.

"Right," Darwin drew the word out with a nod as he looked to her. Liesel smiled awkwardly and leaned back in her seat.

"How do you like this place so far?" Liesel decided to ask, to the side Raven and Angel seemed to be talking rather animatedly. Seeing as how they were having their own conversation, Liesel decided she best strike up talking to Darwin. Otherwise they'd just be sitting in awkward silence.

"It's very...formal."

Liesel laughed and nodded. "It certainly is that."

"How long are we meant to be here for, exactly?" Darwin placed his bottle on the table and rested back in his seat. He stretched his legs out in front of himself and crossed his arms loosely. So far he honestly hadn't been told anything about why he was here. Something about stopping a mad man from starting World War Three, and that was about it. Oh, and there were others like him back at this base. When he was told there were others, he didn't really believe it. Or rather he foolishly believed there was a good number of them gathered. Not two teenagers, a sceptical woman, and the two males who came to find him. And now including Angel.

"I honestly don't know." Liesel replied honestly. "Until this threat is resolved, I presume."

"So, after they effectively use us, we're meant to just be left to return to our normal lives? Somehow I don't believe that."

"You think we're going to be kept here?" Liesel frowned suddenly. She had not thought of that. Honestly she had not dwelt on what was to happen after all of this. She just got seriously hung up on the actual point of it all.

"Can you see them letting us go home?" Darwin smirked and looked around the brightly lit white living room around them. His eyes loitered on the window which looked out to the small, slightly cramped looking courtyard before looking back to her. "Because somehow, I don't see it."

"But they can't keep us here." Liesel said with a deepening frown. She shifted uncomfortably on the sofa and shook her head. "They can't do that. They don't have the right."

"Well perhaps they do seems we're soon to be employed. By rights we're then a part of this organisation. They can then do whatever they want with us." Darwin said while reaching forwards for his cola again. Sipping it thoughtfully he looked to Liesel as she tilted her head to the side and looked fit to bolting out of the door. "But I'm sure it won't be like that. Everyone seems pretty easy going." Darwin quickly added on, he was trying to reassure Liesel. He wasn't certain if it was working or not, to be honest.

"They're not." Liesel said quietly while shifting on the sofa to tuck her legs underneath herself. "They're really not."

"You're saying that just because you got a telling off." Raven suddenly chimed into their conversation. Liesel shot her a look from the corner of her eyes. She hadn't realised the two females beside her had ceased talking and were listening to her conversation with Darwin.

Liesel shook her head. "Nein."

"So you're denying that then, huh?" Raven smirked and leaned back in her seat, reaching beside herself she pulled a brightly coloured cushion into her arms and held it to her chest.

"Nein." Liesel hung her head and shook it slowly. Reaching up to push her hair out of her face from where it was acting as a curtain she looked about.

"What did you do?" Darwin asked curiously while resting his cola bottle against the arm of the sofa.

"She apparently gave Moira, sorry, Agent MacTaggert a good old talking to. All serious and no holds barred, was it not?" Raven joked and grinned at Liesel, who frowned even more than what she already was and tilted her head at such an angle it made a sudden crack come from her neck. Seeing as how joking on her expense wasn't working how Raven thought it would, she let her smile slip and looked worriedly to the woman beside her.

"No one has the right to do as they please with a person. I believe there may be some truth to what you said, Darwin, yet I do not believe it fully. If after all of this they try to keep me grounded, and here, they will fail. I am leaving when this is all done." Liesel said while patting her knees and standing slowly. Stretching and standing on her tiptoes she sighed and lowered herself back to the ground. "It is getting late, perhaps calling it a night is a good idea, no?"

"If that's the case, where are you going?" Angel asked while watching from over the sofa as Liesel moved to the door.

She paused with her hand against it. Looking over her shoulder she smiled. "I need some air." And with that she slipped out of the room and moved down the corridor. Turning a few corners she paused by a window which looked in to a room, the door beside her could easily be overridden, but she wasn't going to do that anymore.

Instead she reached up and tapped on the window. Needless to say suddenly having such a sharp quick noise enter the room, Hank looked about with wide eyes. Seeing her he relaxed and sent her a puzzled look. Liesel rolled her eyes and pointed a finger to the door. As if finally getting the hint Hank jumped up from his stool and walked briskly towards the door. There was the quiet buzz of a button release and then the door was pulled open. "Liesel, what brings you here?" Hank leaned slightly against the door frame and looked to her curiously. He was barring enough of the door to keep her on the outside.

Liesel frowned. Why was everyone so obsessed with restrictive access? It was truly irritating! "I could not help but notice that while I get forced to have introductions, you do not. How is that fair?"

"I am working. I cannot stop doing what I'm doing each time someone new appears." Hank stated with a light frown.

"Well that isn't very fair, is it?"

With a sigh, Hank rolled his eyes and moved away from the door. "Come in, Liesel." Sensing her trying to find somewhere safe to hide out, who was he to deny that? Truth be told he was distracting himself with anything and everything just so he didn't have to return to the shared space and meet the new mutants. New people and him...he did not feel wholly confident about such a thing, regardless of the fact that it'd happen soon anyway. Him delaying the moment was making it worse. "I take it you do not like them." Hank said while he strolled back to his desk and sat down. He picked up a few slides and sorted them and put them into order before looking over his glasses at her.

Liesel was looking about his lab with a curious expression mixed with apprehension. "Why do you say that?"

"You don't seem to like many people." Hank said with a light chuckle.

"Not true. I like you."

Hank double took and blinked rapidly several times trying to figure if he had heard correctly. Coughing awkwardly he placed his hands in his lap and nodded. "Well...thanks."

"You're welcome, Hank." Liesel's eyes finally settled on him. Nodding slowly she moved forwards. "This is your secret project, huh?"

"Oh...yeah," Hank seemed nervous about even mentioning it.

"I won't pry." Liesel smiled and sat in a stool opposite him. "But...be careful."

"Why do you say that?"

Liesel's eyes narrowed slowly in thought. "You have been working nonstop on this. Do not overwork yourself, and also do not become disillusioned." She picked up a beaker and looked the glass over before putting it back down. "So...what is it?"

"What happened to not prying?" Hank smiled suddenly and swatted her hand lightly away from the microscope before him, as well as his notebook.

"Sorry!" Liesel rocked on her stool with a wide smile. "You know, this is the first time we've ever really spoken?" She wished to state while leaning her chin against her palm. Hank looked at her and then at the desk. Her words were true, this was really their first proper conversation, and oddly enough Liesel was finding this the easiest first conversation she'd ever had with someone! Maybe being here wouldn't be so bad, for sure she knew Hank wasn't likely to tease her, joke at her expense, or question her too deeply.

"So what really bought you here?" Hank decided to ask instead.

"You were right," Liesel smiled while he looked confused. "I don't really like them." Liesel rolled her eyes, "Rather...they're too expectant and..."

"Disillusioned?" Hank decided to use her earlier word.

"Yeah...somewhat." Liesel drummed on the desk and leaned against it. "Angel and Raven act like they've known each other for years. Darwin is all questions and scepticism...I am the wrong person to ask questions to, don't you think?"

"But then, you know more than most; with what we're trying to do here, after all." Hank said quickly and in a muddled sounding tone. He was desperately trying to think of the words to use while speaking. Seems he hadn't said anything wrong, he smiled awkwardly while Liesel nodded slowly.

"Have you always been here?"

"Ever since graduating, yes."

"Don't you get bored? Lonely? Wish to be outside...go see a movie...go travelling?" Hank thought over her words, and numerous questions before awkwardly shaking his head. "Really? Wow. I've been here a day and a bit and I already want out! How can you not wish to be out of here?"

"Because unlike you, Liesel, I like it here." Hank said somewhat humbly while shrugging loosely. She couldn't help but smile over his honesty, despite dubious thoughts of possibly ever getting on with the younger male; Liesel now found herself forgetting these earlier thoughts. In this one simple conversation, she could easily say she enjoyed his company. The lack of pressure for a topic to talk about was one thing with caused her to feel content.

----

Edited: 10/June/2019

Reedited: 16/August/2021