Well guys, I'm going to try to recall the events as closely to reality as possible, if you give it a read I welcome any and all helpful feedback.

Approached and opened a male specialty shop employee as part of my training---they sell scented hand lotion among other things, had a good 5 minute chat, then I brought up wanting to see another girl who worked at the place a few weeks ago.

I tell him I don't remember her name, only vaguely what she looked like (she was a HB5). He mentions there's a girl working here right now, she's on break. We lean over a corner and see the girl---very pretty, HB8 or 8.5, she's just sitting and chilling. I think "ok now it's on", and I wave her over.

She comes over, I give her the solid 5-8 second eye contact before she breaks it while pretending to examine her to see if she was the girl who was working the other day. I get IOI's immediately, she's smiling and even starts running her hand down the side of my arm (oh god thank you for inventing dumbbells) after I touch her on the arm.

I am pretty direct the whole time about my intentions to the other girl: I tell them I wanted to talk to her again and that she was interesting. The guy tells me she has a boyfriend, and I tell him "oh that's ok, I like her, not her boyfriend." At this point the HB8 laughs and says "wow I like that! you're pretty upfront about this!" and gives me a mini-hug. (Need analysis on this part guys, should I have negged her on the kino, should I have interpreted this as an IOI or shit test, what should I have said?)

Well I smile and she asks me to describe the employee. I jokingly describe her exactly like the HB8 (she has a couple of piercings on her face), comment that she has a "great smile", she gets the joke and keeps smiling and laughing. (Here I start to get nervous a bit. Damn, my old enemy comes back. The muscles on my face start to twitch a little, maybe from me smiling/laughing too much. I look away and it gets a little better. Analysis?)

I then get a huge IOI. I ask the two what their names are. I did not hear clearly the name she gives me, and when I ask her to repeat it, she spells it out. (It's actually a boyish name, think maybe I should have teased her for that?)

We transition into the color of her eyes somehow---I did not initiate the transition, I believe it was an offhand remark by the male employee who was now feeling a bit left out. Anyhow, I tell her to look at me again (is this too much/repetitive?) for a while while I try and see what color they are. I tell her and she smiles.

After that I tell her I need to take her picture so I don't confuse her with the HB5. She declines and says she's shy. (Dammit I shoulda called her on that and teased her, cause she's not shy. Maybe run the trust routine. Analysis guys?)

Finally I realize the conversation's probably been going on for 15 minutes. FTC needs to be put in. Two things hit me then: 1) I had received tons of IOI's from the HB8, and 2) I was not going to close. My mind was blank for some reason, we had a pretty good connection by then but the words didn't come.

So, having read that, what do you guys think? How should I have handled this differently in the end to close? Be honest and forward, I appreciate compliments but I crave criticism---I can learn more from the latter than the former.

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firstly, you shouldve remembered in better detail. But uhh, seems like you started off strong but shied away towards the end. you seem to know what you did wrong/right.

About the eye noticing. If you complilment eyes you should follow it up with, "Can I touch them?"

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Cuz I don't break hearts...I just dent them

I only have compliments to give on this one bro, I love the line you used "Thats ok I'm interested in her not her bf" a few negs may have came in nicely as long as they were commical.

all you need now is to find a good number close and your set

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Stay cool,

Fire

Criticisms:

When she hugged, you should have said something to the effect of "this shit ain't free", or "i don't let strangers talk to me, let alone hug me". This was a lost opportunity for a neg.

When you started to describe her instead of the other girl, you did good by giving her the compliment, but then it looks like you never pulled the carpet out from under her. You should have then joked about how you think the other girl was more interesting (with a laugh of course). Then this was an opportunity to talk about how your interested in more than looks, and that you've dated other hotties in the past who were stupid airheads. Finally, how she might meet some of you high standards, but you aren't sure yet. This is a perfect way for her to commit to the interaction. If she is attracted as it seems, she is now locked on you.

Remember that number closing is NOT the goal. Numbers do not fuck you, girls do. The easiest way to get her number would have been. "Hey, your sorta fun. But look I gotta go to (the FTC should have been already inserted in conversation). Is there a way we can continue this conversation?" Usually this results in a number or screename at least. She could have replied "come in anytime and we'll talk more", to which you could say something like "well give me your number so I know that your working". If you attracted =>built some comfort through, she's wouldn't even second guess. You also didn't come straight out and ask for her number, which is a plus.

The picture thing could have came off creepy. You had attraction but not comfort yet, so don't push it. Work on comfort routines, like asking her about herself in fun ways. Questions are okay, so long as you don't seem to interested. Then connect her responses with yourself. Example:

PUA:What'd you want to be when you were little?

HB:A skank thats all yours!

PUA: Cool, well I wanted to be...because...

FTC at the beginning.

Positives:

You seem to have no problem hooking sets. Don't be afraid to use this to your advantage. Try false takeaways sometimes. Don't be afraid to lose a set.

You seem to do a good job of setting up frames for other people, but becareful that you don't fall into other people's frames as well.

You did well with another guy present. Start ignoring the guy as soon as the HB starts ignoring him. You can always gain his trust afterwards.

You have quick wit, or at least are developing it. GOOD.



This is a little extensive, but I think this is what you were looking for.

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-Duke

flarm---Thanks for the tip dude, nice, quick, simple.

Fire---aww man, you make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

duke---awesome breakdown. I read through that, replayed the events, then replayed the events with your suggestions added in, and it clicked a few things into place for me. Gonna field test this. Couple of questions though:

1) how would you have approached this from where I left off to shoot for an f-close? (assume you implemented those suggestions you listed)

2) do you think I should build comfort (in this scenario and in general) in isolation or right there in the set? Would just seem weird to start talking to the chick about an airheaded ex with the guy standing right there.

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1) The f-close is of course, in the future. After you got her number, I'd say give it about an hour and then text message her. Texts are easy, they don't put you on the spot to start conversation and are generally risk free. I'd send her a picture of something funny or something that all girls will like. Like, "Hey, I know this is random. But..." Usually I use some sort of short opener here. I personally enjoy:

I'm having an arguement with my friend and i need and answer, which is better, chocolate or strawberry ice cream?

This sets up the precedent to talk more. From here its about finding convenient times to be chatty with her. Maybe even call her when your doing something really fun, and just talk to her. Make it part of everyday life to talk to each other. I'm fond of AIM because its easy and saves face but builds comfort. From there it is just about escalation.

2) Yeah, build comfort as soon as you realize she is attracted, giving you IOI's and you've returned several, and screened her a little. The guy was an obstacle, but as soon as she ignores him, so do you. By ignoring him that shows he is of little value to her, and therefore should be so to you.

I hope this helps. Don't overthink this set. Once you do, you become nervous and you'll make this a sticking point. Most importantly is to take away everyting good you did, and overall this was a quality set, and to improve on areas of this consciously, but not obsessively.

Good luck on all your sets.

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-Duke