SPLASH!  Motto jolted up and glared at the older man who looked responsible for the cold water.<br/><br/>"you stinkin' up my storefront! Go around back and take the stairs down."<br/><br/>Motto wasn’t sure what to make of the instructions.   Did the man send everyone that way or just dudes who accidentally fell asleep outside his cafe?  His confusion was plain to see.  Jorge’s features stretched with agitation as he enunciated slowly for the culo, “She. is. waiting.”<br/><br/>The younger man’s eyes widened with sudden realization and  he turned and ran.<span style="color: #00FF40">“S*** s*** s***.” </span>Motto muttered while clearing a stack of crates and squeezing past a startled baker.  HE WAS LATE.<span style="color: #00FF40">“Stairs stairs.” </span>He located them and thundered down into the back room still dripping yet.<br/><br/>He yanked open a door to enter what looked like a nice little apartment and came to a halt.  There was a woman sitting there reading and<span style="font-style: italic">it was probably her house.</span>Thinking he took the wrong set of stairs, Motto blurted an apology before shutting the door quickly and dashing back the way he came.  A minute later, there was a soft knock at the door before the Elemental Prince opened it again.<br/><br/>As far as he could tell, no one was there besides the mocha-skinned woman.  Squaring his shoulders, Motto turned to face her after shutting the door and strode to where she was.  He stopped four feet from the lady and bowed at the waist.<span style="color: #00FF40">“Your Highness of Ikathka , I am Motto of the Brook.  Heir to the Elemental Domain.”</span>Rising, a mild blush could now be seen on his face as well as a twitch of his jaw.  Motto’s hair was partially flattened against his head from the spontaneous ice bath and droplets of water continued to roll down his neck into the half drenched tee-shirt he wore.  Somehow the grime from his journey remained; an awkward smear on his forehead and the scratch on his cheek.  Although he governed his eyes reasonably well, Motto noted her clothes and figure.  Her scent he hadn’t fully made out yet, but it didn’t matter much.  She was hotter than he imagined except there was no tiara or pink stuff.<span style="color: #00FF40">“I am ..at your service..”</span>He added in his best attempt at royal speak.