Hey guys,

I've been approaching a lot lately and things are going well. I can actually get into the beginnings of a conversation with a girl instead of just opening then ejecting like I've normally been doing. My problem is, however, I can't DHV; either that, or it just never feel appropriate. Here's how the interactions have been going, and assume my tonality and body language and everything are spot on because I've been practicing them and I believe I've got them right:

Me, to a girl I see in a bookstore or clothes store or whatever: "If you were my sister and it was your birthday, would you rather have a gift card or an actual item?"
Her: "Hmm... *usually asking me if I know what she wants or whatever, ultimately telling me to get her the gift card.*"
Me: "Yeah, I know a gift card is more practical. But, well, I remember when we were younger -- I was like, fifteen and she was probably seven, for my birthday she gave me this turtle she found in the backyard, and she named the turtle 'Happy Birthday.'"
Her: "*laughs/tells me that's cute*"
Me: "Yeah, so y'know, I never like to just get her a gift card, I usually try to pick out something. It's hard this year, though, because she's turning thirteen and I really have no idea what to get her."

And from then, I never know where to take it. I was thinking about maybe asking the girl if she has any brothers or sisters, or whatever. Sometimes she says before hand that she does. In that case, should I ask about them? I sort of thought that it might be rapport-seeking too early in the interaction if she's not yet shown any interest and I still haven't really DHVed any yet except for cool-ass body language and the cute anecdote about my sister. But, it seems if I don't, I can't really begin to get into a conversation with her, or at least to a comfortable point when I feel like I could number-close. What do you guys think?

Question: Are you including an FTC? If you're not, start. With that said...

Say you and this girl hit it off....

She comes to your house, meets your sister, and she's 17- or maybe there is no sister- you have a brother, maybe he's gay- either way it's not a sister. I'm not a proponent of lying at least not where it can blow up in your face.

Tell her it's for your cousin- I'd open with "I need a gift for a girl- which shirt do you like more?" blahblahblah "You see it's for my cousin- she's turning 7 and I already bought her a pony, now I need to get her something to unwrap- cause you can't wrap a pony, ya know?"

::time out:: this just came to me...go shopping for earings- tell her you're little cousin is turning 8 and is getting her ears pierced. Tell her you can remember when she came home for the hospital and when she has a boyfriend you're going to go bald. That's a DHV.

blahblahblah

DHV DHV DHV

YOU GOTTA DHV EARLY! Whether it's with humor, story telling, it doesn't matter. Otherwise she has NOOO reason to keep you around- there's plenty of other guys that need birthday gifts that want to fuck her.

Don't ask about her brother's and sisters- that's AFC- be the exception. If she tells you she has brother's and sister's ask her if she plays any instruments. If she says yes tell her they should form a band and travel the country in a bus like the partridge family- then DHV.

If she says no, tell her she looks like she'd play the recorder (at some point we all played recorders) She'll remember that and get wet with excitement.

Then disqualify yourself as a suitor- tell her you could never date a band geek- or tell her you only date girls that play recorders- it doesn't matter. Make her think she lost you, not the other way around.

The rest is up to you- keep us posted. Good luck it sounds like your going in the right direction.
~Irony

Hey man, that sounds like some good advice. Thanks a lot. (I do have a little sister that age, though, so the DHV isn't a lie.) I like the musical instrument bit too.