Parlour Games, Friday, 6/14
The classroom was in its usual configuration this week, but the lights had been turned down and there was soft music playing. The idea was to make it less feel like part of a school, and more like a living room after dinner. (A rather institutional sort of living room, but there was nothing Jack could do about that without bringing the Danger Shop into things.)
"I'm a bit bored with the actual gams, so we're talking about the greatest parlour game of all this week," Jack said. "Flirting. Contrary to what some of you may think, you don't necessarily need to want to go out with someone to flirt with them -- with the right partner, it's just a dance that leaves both people feeling a bit better about themselves than they did when they started talking, even if neither has the slightest actual romantic interest. If it leads beyond that, well ... so much the better."
"When you spot someone who interests you, the first thing to do is to catch their eye. It can be as simple as looking their way and raising your eyebrows, or smiling, and waiting for them to smile back. If they don't, you've likely picked the wrong target and may want to move on. But assuming they do, say hello and then just start chatting. You can talk about anything -- the weather, the weekend, how glad you'll be to sleep in a real bed again. The words are less important than the body language. Someone who leans forward and looks you in the eye is likely engaged; someone who's glancing around the room and folding their arms likely isn't. You also want to be as positive as you can without sounding like a complete nitwit. If you can be funny while you're being critical, or if the joke's mainly on you, it's all right, but for heaven's sake don't be whiny. Or mean. Or pick arguments. Complimenting something about them is good, especially if it's a compliment that shows you're paying attention."
"As things go on, you may want to mirror the other person's body language -- touching your hair when they touch theirs, or dropping your arm to your side when they do. Just -- do it subtly or not at all. Done right, there's nothing more flattering; done wrong, it'll look like you're making fun of them. And if things are going really well, you can introduce physical contact. A tap on the hand or lower arm when you're making a point is usually about all you'd want to do at this stage, and let the other person decide if they want to take it further."
He paused there, hands in his pockets. "Now, go forth and practice flirting."
"I'm a bit bored with the actual gams, so we're talking about the greatest parlour game of all this week," Jack said. "Flirting. Contrary to what some of you may think, you don't necessarily need to want to go out with someone to flirt with them -- with the right partner, it's just a dance that leaves both people feeling a bit better about themselves than they did when they started talking, even if neither has the slightest actual romantic interest. If it leads beyond that, well ... so much the better."
"When you spot someone who interests you, the first thing to do is to catch their eye. It can be as simple as looking their way and raising your eyebrows, or smiling, and waiting for them to smile back. If they don't, you've likely picked the wrong target and may want to move on. But assuming they do, say hello and then just start chatting. You can talk about anything -- the weather, the weekend, how glad you'll be to sleep in a real bed again. The words are less important than the body language. Someone who leans forward and looks you in the eye is likely engaged; someone who's glancing around the room and folding their arms likely isn't. You also want to be as positive as you can without sounding like a complete nitwit. If you can be funny while you're being critical, or if the joke's mainly on you, it's all right, but for heaven's sake don't be whiny. Or mean. Or pick arguments. Complimenting something about them is good, especially if it's a compliment that shows you're paying attention."
"As things go on, you may want to mirror the other person's body language -- touching your hair when they touch theirs, or dropping your arm to your side when they do. Just -- do it subtly or not at all. Done right, there's nothing more flattering; done wrong, it'll look like you're making fun of them. And if things are going really well, you can introduce physical contact. A tap on the hand or lower arm when you're making a point is usually about all you'd want to do at this stage, and let the other person decide if they want to take it further."
He paused there, hands in his pockets. "Now, go forth and practice flirting."