Luke takes her delicate hand in her delicate gloves and helps guide her up onto the curb with her delicate heels; all sorts of delicate precautions for, he is sure, a not-so-delicate lady. Despite their appearances, princesses-- in his experience-- do tend to be less delicate than they seem.

“The courtesy is appreciated, your highness,” he says, offering her his arm as they walked towards the VIP entrance to the restaurant-- a great, double-storied newfangled thing, all sleek gleaming metal and giant window panes. “I must insist, however, that you call me Luke. Lord knows I’ve never properly been in line for anything, really.” He smiles to indicate his jest as they do, indeed, bypass the line waiting out front for seating.

The host, primly dressed in black and white, recognizes them (already, the power of money) and leads them through shining silver halls to a private alcove overlooking a gorgeous section of beach. A round table, an overhang to keep the sun off, windows that crank open letting in the sea air.

Luke deposits Elise at her chair and waits for her to be seated before finding his own.

“Your preference on wine, your highness?” he asks, waving over the sommelier. "I'm sure it's nothing you've not had before, but please-- tonight, the world is your oyster. My treat."

Elise Calcifet - sleepless in slateport

☉

Elise pleases him by electing to use his nickname. Luke’d never had much use for his full name, and, as a bastard, no royal titles were ever truly bequeathed upon him. Hyacinth had been the Unovan version of his mother’s maiden name, Jacinta. It put him in mind of regal, tropical blue birds; that had been why he’d chosen it.

“A fine choice,” Luke says with a nod of his head. A brief discussion in Kalosian with the sommelier causes the man to scurry off to fetch their wine, while a busboy fills the delicate crystal goblets at their table with sparkling water, and another busboy deposits a piping hot basket of fresh bread on the delicate lace tablecloth.

“I’m very thankful you decided to join me this evening,” Luke says, smiling across the table, an affectation of warmth in his tone. “I find it’s so important for new blood to acquaint itself with old blood. Better to ease the intermingling of the two. Have you been in Hoenn long, your highness?”

Elise Calcifet - sleepless in slateport

☉