I know I'm not the only one here that isn't so much looking for the string of one night stands or whatnot. Not to knock it, by any means; I'm just in a different place in my life. I like the idea of having someone for something more than just a physical bond, something more than even friendship. I imagine I'm not the only one who wants a relationship, and recently I had an opportunity to apply all the stuff I've gathered from here to a proper relationship. It worked out better than I imagined. Here's a few of the highlights, but if there's interest I've got more.

Meeting: We met a party for two mutual friends - guys I've known since high school. I had chatted up a pair of younger girls earlier in the night (about 18, 19 - I was 20 for reference), and at some point someone started racking up a pool table. (Learn to play pool. Just, do it.) We decided to go guy-girl teams, and I got paired with an HB6 - my soon-to-be girlfriend. Both the girls were terrible, and teasing from both of the guys commenced. At some point, I mid-shot told my partner she needed to stick around, that I'd teach her how to play. She gladly accepted. Everyone else had left to bowl (we were in a bowling alley), but Carrie and I hung back and played at least 4 more games. Through the course of the night, I taught her how to shoot, how to aim, and other fundamentals. It provided me a way to touch her without being creepy, and the role as a teacher meant I controlled the pace of the night.

I bounced around between flirting ("No, no, bend over, closer to the table" evil grin), teasing ("...you do know you're stripes, right?"), and teaching very quickly, always keeping her on her toes. I moved around the table confidently, and had some very good runs. By the time we rejoined everyone, the bowling had become more conversation than anything, which was fine - I'm awful anyway. By the end of the night, I knew I had her very interested, but decided to put out one little test for her - instead of getting her number directly, I yelled at her from my car to get my number from one of the people at the party. I was woken up the next morning by a facebook message from her, with her number, saying I should text her.

(Side note: I would come to find out that Carrie had come to that party because she had a huge crush on one of the guys the party was for. She came to the party specifically to try and bang him. Needless to say, that didn't happen.)

First Date: We texted back and forth for a few days, more of the same flirting/teasing (I'm a natural with texting, always have been). At some point during the conversation, she dropped a phrase that screamed IOI - something to the effect of "i'm terrible at making the first move". I told her "alright, I'll do something dramatic next time I see you."

We met at the movie - she was a bit late, as it started 5 minutes after her shift ended. I was standing outside the theater, waiting for her, and when she was within earshot i teased her about being late. She made an excuse about work, of course. As she walked past me, I grabbed her arm, pulled her back, and pushed her against the pillar I was leaning against. First kiss was a total surprise for her, and a few seconds after she got into it, I pulled away, took her hand, and said "we're gonna be late for the movie". Her face was priceless - a look that said "who is this guy, how did he do that, and ohmygod I'm turned on" all at once.

EDIT: I suppose it's relevant to point out, the examples here are meant to remind you that even when you've got the girl, seduction never stops. It's a constant thing, or it should be. It keeps things fun, keeps the relationship from settling down into a stale routine. As the relationship progresses, the methods may change, but the principles remain the same. Just because you got her for a night, or a week, or a year, doesn't mean she's yours forever.

My "goal" is to find someone I care about, and then do everything I can to make sure those dreamy, wistful, starry eyes she gets when she first falls for me never go away. If a relationship is what you want, make it your goal too.