"Well, far be it from me to stand in the way of self-improvement," she laughs, using that to cover her own conflicted response to Anakin's feelings. "That sounds like a fair deal."

She laughs as well, drinking another shot, then slides a piece of flimsi over to Elesse with a room number and a time. "I have some games to win still, but this place gets quiet near sunup."

She pockets the paper and nods.

"Good luck with the cards."

"I'm always lucky," she says with another smirk, then turns her attention away from Elesse and Anakin.

And with a nod of her head, Elesse indicates she and Anakin should retreat to one of the quiet booths.

She follows obediently, sitting beside Elesse, brushing against her.

"We'll have to decide what to show her," she says softly. "And how far to go."

She leans against Elesse and murmurs, "We will."

(And in her mind - she wants to rescue that boy, and if they can't, she... Doesn't want to give his owner cruel ideas, pretty much. But if they think they can free him after the meetup, then - Anakin doesn't actually know what her limits are.)

(It goes without saying that Elesse has never tortured her before. Anakin... Thinks she feels less positively about figuring out what her limits are, or at least what they aren't, in front of a stranger, than she does about the entire idea. But Elesse's going to be mind reading her, which - does enable more on the fly changes...)

(Something... Kind? Might be good as an actual explanation, but in the context of what the woman was asking something that's not really painful would instead be. Um.)

(Anakin's brain zeros out as she tries not to think the word SEX too loudly.)

"I don't think I'm comfortable with that," Elesse murmurs. "Certainly not in front of a stranger."

She puts her head on Elesse's shoulder. 

(Yeah Anakin understands. She is very embarrassed by her brain but it - helps that Elesse's reaction is so mild. Even though her brain wants to feel rejected because it's dumb. (Anakin has some meditating to do - or talking about stuff directly with Elesse but that sounds extra embarrassing. (She's been needing to spend more time sorting out her thoughts this mission than normal.)))

(That - means some kind of directly unpleasant discipline thing then? Which, Anakin knows at least the vague idea of a lot of those. Her brain keeps skittering to the more extreme stuff, which... There's intense unpleasant things that aren't very painful but Anakin doesn't want to be made very vulnerable here, she thinks. She wants to keep her senses, and - probably not be tied up, not for this. She can hold herself still instead. And she doesn't want to be degraded, not - more than is kinda inherent here. (She wants to be good and treasured and valuable.))

(She still doesn't know how - far into the painful stuff she's okay to go. Probably no major injury, but there's... Lots that isn't that. And some of the other things are probably negotiable, if Elesse thinks they'll work better. Or just wants to do them to Anakin just because.)

(Her thoughts are getting kind of fast and disjointed.)

"Remember to slow down and breathe."

Deep, gentle breaths.

(Her mind calms a little, enough to notice that part of her issue is this isn't fully public but it's not fully private either, and she thinks - processing thoroughly might require being out of potential sight/ hearing of other people than her and Elesse. And processing will be maybe easier if she knows more of what Elesse thinks about - all this.)

(She wants to act freely.)

(And she thinks she doesn't know enough to say what she wants to do, though she can mentally draft some - general parameters. But she wants to... Run through whatever they're going to do in private, first. Experience it, not just think about it, in a lower stress situation.)

(And... She thinks at least a lot of the initial sorting will be easiest if Elesse gives her more suggestions of - what to do or focus on. But she also thinks she wouldn't mind just... Deciding by experimenting, maybe.)

"We'll go get a room first, then."

Small shiver. And even though presumably no one can hear her: "Yes ma'am," she murmurs. "Should I arrange that for you?" A soft breath, a moment's hesitation, then she adds on a "Master?"

"Just the sort of menial task I keep you around for. See to it, Ani."

Soft giggle. 

She does so, happily. (Still keeping her attention on any rumors - this time focusing most heavily on that woman and her slave. She gets a good bit there, especially since the proprietor saw them talking. It'll be useful for later.)

(She notes, too, what features of this particular bar will be most relevant to any escape attempts.)

She returns with a keycard and a, "I got your room, Master."

"Excellent. Accompany me upstairs, then." She stands.

"Yes, ma'am."

She falls in behind Elesse. (Her thoughts are increasingly calm and still. Settled. Focused. Doing something helps a lot.)

The room isn't particularly large, and only has one bed, wide enough for two with a heavy frame with gaps you could easily secure a chain to. Ani had pushed lightly for a private room, though, and it is that - quiet and well insulated, and Ani finds no bugs when she does a quick sweep. 

Elesse sits on the bed, and pats the space next to her. "Take a seat, Ani."

She sits, brushing against Elesse again. "What is it, Master?"

(She's unsure if she should break character here or not, but it's already soothing being - less observed.)

She stretches out with the Force, checking that they're unobserved. Confirming this, she heaves a sigh.

"Just Elesse, Anakin. We're alone."

She shivers and relaxes, her brain shifting gears with a little tumble over itself to fully occupy Anakin-ness and not Anakin-layered-under-Ani, which apparently gives her slightly worse anxiety over some topics than most of the times she does stuff like this.

(Shifting gears into another personality she's inhabiting is very disorienting but like, it feels normal amounts of disorienting this time.)

Her brain restabilizes quickly, and she makes a soft 'mrrrr,' cheeks flushing as embarrassment and awkwardness wash through her. She nods, though. "Okay." Sigh, and - "Good."

"So. Over and above what the mission requires- I have... concerns, about what this will mean for our relationship."

She needs to acknowledge and temporarily nudge aside the 'but I want it' to engage with that directly, but... "It's - yeah."

"I don't think I'll be - bothered? But possibly kind of. Maybe the opposite."

"I know you are a growing woman and have- sexual preferences. I have my own set of preferences."

"As your teacher, I have a bond of responsibility towards you, particularly when those preferences intersect with each other and overlap with a mission."