It was late, really late, as the new day was already under way.  Apparently, neither the hours of a late night or an early morning bothered Bernard.  The valet very nearly scared the bejesus out of the Prince, who was rounding the top of the staircase to hopefully sneak into his room undetected.  “Where have you been?!” he agitatedly whispered.  “Do you know what time it is?!”<br/><br/>Orion rolled his eyes at being waylaid just shy of his goal.  So close, but alas, no cigar.  “Forgive me, Bernard,” he sarcastically replied.  “But I could’ve sworn I already have a mother.”<br/><br/>Now it was his aide’s turn for an irritated eye roll, turning away from Orion as he did so.  The Prince amusingly noticed it anyway, though he said nothing.<br/><br/>“You have your practice in a matter of hours,” he needlessly reminded him.  “You’re lucky neither of your parents was requesting your presence.  And you didn’t even . . .”<br/><br/>A closed door in Bernard’s face, and Orion said from the other side, “G’night, Mother.  Do give my best to Father, won’t you?”  Muttering profanities under his breath, he stormed off toward his own room.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center">&gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt; &gt;&lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt; &lt;​</div><br/>Morning arrived fast and hard for Orion.  But then again, his head didn’t hit the pillow until an obnoxiously early hour, just beating the sun’s rays on the rise by an hour or so.  Lying on his left side, one eye opened to see a glaring Bernard staring at him, while the Prince’s gear bag rested by his side.  But first, a hot, soothing shower to wash the cobwebs away.<br/><br/>Struggling with the simple act of removing himself from the bed’s covers, he smiled fondly at his long-time friend and assistant.  Why?  Because of the matching saucer and cup he held, which was a triple-shot of espresso.  “Thank you, Bernard,” he said.  “You do know how to kick-start my abbreviated mornings.”  Orion accepted the matching saucer and cup on his way to the shower, knowing there’d be another one on his way out.<br/><br/>Bernard glanced over his left shoulder with a wicked expression.  “Tosser,” he stated loud enough for Orion to hear.  Sure enough, the Prince bellowed with laughter as he entered the steaming shower, matching saucer and cup still in his grasp.