Swallowed the red pill hard recently after stewing over it for a while. Have been reading up, modify my thought patterns and behaviors, working out, eating better, blah blah, etc. Two recent interactions have totally validated my decision. Result: god damn this shit works -- plus it's less stressful and more fun. Barely watercooler worthy, but fuck it:

-- At a concert where guys were falling all over this pair of tiny spinners, 7-8. These tools literally had them surrounded, steadily serving them Grade A attention whore chump steak with a side of simmering desperation on a blue pill platter. I didn't play that shit -- instead I have fun with my boys and generally give no fucks. End of the night she starts making eye contact, I hold it, make her break. She looks right back, smirks. At one point she's literally locked onto me while talking with some guy who's just blathering away. She eventually makes the rounds and almost immediately starts with the shit tests:

"Where you from" - "Atlantis" "You have a girlfriend, don't you?" - "it's complicated", "Can I try some of that" (points to my nearly full cup) - "I'm about out at the moment but those guys probably have some extra wine coolers".

She literally plops down on my lap put her arm around my neck. "Inomyou, why are you so mean to me?" - "Hard to say but my sweet side only comes out every other Tuesday" Ok, so I fucked that one up but seriously, I could have said anything as long as I didn't fall into her shit traps. There's kissing, some fun bag feels and a #-close.

== Texted a girl (7) I used to beta orbit. "Ran out of laundry detergent. Bring some over with a bottle and you can help fold." "Haha yeah right. What are u doing?" "Installing a stripper pole in the basement. Shame your wardrobe doesn't qualify." "Oh...yeah? I have stuff...good stuff".
"I'm sure your cat thinks so."

Couple hours later she's here with detergent and some wine. Black yoga pants. This is a work in process so I got nothing but the power structure of the relationship definitely changed.

tl/dr: shit works.