Rip Hunter arrived stateside on a redeye flight from London. He made his way to the little hotel room he'd be calling home for the next few days until he could find an apartment in the city. After a day or two of adjusting to the time difference, he headed to the university with his curriculum for the semester in hand. He figured perhaps he'd find information on a better living situation once he spoke with his new colleagues.
He entered the teacher's break hall. He walked passed everyone lounging and talking around couches and tables and made his way straight to the cupboards next to the microwave. A bland and nuked black tea would have to suffice. As he watched the cup spin in the microwave, a voice from behind turned him around.
"I've asked them to bring in a better variety of teas but alas..." The man smiled as he shook Rip's hand. "Professor Martin Stine, Astrophysics."
"Rip Hunter, History of Medieval and Elizabethan Literature." Rip took the tea out of the machine right before it went off.
"Interesting." Stine raised an eyebrow. "You know, I was a bit of a Shakespearian actor in my younger days."
"Were you?" Rip smiled. Stine had the sort of voice one would not be surprised to find in a classically trained actor. Clear, round tones and impeccable enunciation. Why it almost rivaled Rip's own proper British accent. Rip had spent a lot of his life trying to iron out the East Londoner in him.
They got on rather well and ended up talking for an hour over tea. Rip brought up his living situation. "I really don't want to start my school year grading exams on the makeshift desk I've fashioned out of the ironing board."
Stine thought it over. "I know one of our instructors is looking for a roommate. Though I'm not sure if she's your type."
"My type? I'm not looking for a girlfriend. I just need a flatmate." Rip replied with a chuckle.
"Name's Ms. Lance. You can find her in the gymnasium." Stine looked at his watch. "If you leave now I believe you can catch her between classes."
Rip walked down the gymnasium corridors and reached the room number Stine had given him. It had a large glass window where one could see inside. It was a kickboxing class. The woman at the head of the class pirouettes into a high roundhouse kick in one swift fluid motion. The students attempt the same in their own beginner-like fashion.
She drew the class to a close and the students flooded out out the room. Rip entered after the final student had left. Her chest heaving from the workout, she grabbed a water bottle and squeezed the water into her mouth. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"Excuse me, Ms. Lance, is it?" Rip nodded a hello as she turned to face him.
"Yeah, who wants to know?" She smiled.
She was lean and rock solid. Her abs seemed carved out of stone, she gave Michelangelo's David a run for his money. But her smile was sweet, not as intimidating as one would expect. All freckles and dimples. And her eyes, a piercing sort of blue. To think Stine had assumed she wasn't Rip's type. Even so, he approached her in a matter of utmost professionalism.
'Dr. Rip Hunter." He extended his hand with a slight bow of the head. Sara shook it, a firm shake. Rip smiled. "A Professor Stine told me you were in search of a new flatmate."
"New in town?" She looked him over.
"Is it that obvious?" Rip replied with almost a smile.
Sara chuckled. "Well, Stine's right. I am looking for someone. Of course I'm going to have to run a quick background check to make sure you're not a murderer."
"Completely reasonable." Again, he almost smiled.
He never could manage to display his emotions. He probably seemed so rigid to her, Rip thought. Sara's face seemed filled with emotion, she was electrifying.
Sara was careful not to give away her apartment address right away. She instead gave an address to a coffee shop where they would meet the next day to talk. Rip arrived there first. He took a seat by the window and stared out as he drank his tea. It was beginning to rain. He quite liked his little corner. Perhaps, he thought, Sara would invite him here more often. It could be their spot. Rip shook his head, clearing the thought from his mind. He's hardly met her and already he was fantasizing about cozy coffeeshop dates.
Sara entered and quickly shook off her raincoat. She ordered "The usual" and took a seat across from Rip. "Time to get to know each other a little better." She gives Rip a sly grim. "First question, what kind of a name is Rip Hunter."
"It's a perfectly normal name, thank you very much." Rip replied. He hid a smile behind his coffee mug.
"If you say so." She continued. "Is this your first time stateside?"
"No, actually." Rip replied. "Some years back, a good decade ago now, I sort of got lost in this search to find myself. Ended up living in Oklahoma for a year."
"How was that?" Sara asked.
"Made some friends, learned to ride a horse." Rip paused for a moment. "But I had to go back home in the end."
Sara twirled some sugar into her coffee. "And what brought you back home?"
Rip replied with his eyes looking down at his tea. "The most brilliant woman I've ever known."
Sara seems to sense the sudden shift in Rip's demeanor and changes her tone, she's softer now. "What brought you to Star City?"
"A fresh start." Rip turned to look out the window.
"Well then, I'll make sure to keep things fresh for ya." She winked, an attempt to bring Rip back around. It seemed to work, at least a little. He let out a small chuckle at least.