I started my journey as red pilled recently, and I'm having difficulty implementing the recommended behaviors in reality. I want to lay out a full scenario that I'm currently in so that I can be critiqued. I just got out of a 4 year relationship that I ended 3 weeks ago. She was asking me to marry her, I didn't know about trp at the time, but I had this voice deep inside that was telling me to not settle, and like a brave idiot I listened to that voice. I'm really glad that I did.

So, I have a date with a girl#1 going to an art museum on Valentine's (She asked me to go), this would be our 3rd date, nothing has happened yet because I fucked up being alpha a lot on date 1, and a little on 2. I text her "I'm going to dress as pretentious as possible. Do it with me". She replies "I'm always looking for an excuse to wear a ball gown." haha crying laughing emoji, xD xD, you get the point.

I saw the opportunity to tease her on this, but couldn't think of anything that didn't feel shoe horned. So I just didn't text back. Five days later she messages me asking me to come out on Saturday at 5 pm for something not related to our other scheduled date, but I have plans with girl#2. So I give her the good ol' "I'm going out to dinner with a friend". She gets a lil' desperate and says there's a comedy show at 930 and after I'm done with dinner we should hang out. I just say I'm busy, maybe another night.

So she texts me Friday late at night asking what restaurant I'm going to, and that she was just at whiskeycake and it was really great. (Obviously anxious, but at the same time telling me she has options too.) I didn't respond till saturday night after my date with girl#2( Which went well, she asked me to come out with her this Wednesday). I texted girl#1 and I'll preface this by saying I completely regret texting girl#1, but I felt like I was being too distant. so I tell her "I went to some american fare restaurant. Whiskey and cake sounds good right now."

Of course after I sent this I was like fuck I'm an idiot, but I am rolling with it now. lmao

So next morning and still no reply and I think okay, the texting ratio has been pretty much 1:2 so I have a little leeway to text her and recover frame. I text her "Lets see what level of pretentiousness we're dealing with here. Send me a picture of what you're wearing for the art museum." She responds a couple hour later ( right now, the moment I'm writing this) and says haha okay I have two options, which one seems more obnoxious. She sends two pictures of the dresses both on the bed not on her, which was a let down.

I'm just a newb trying to figure this out. So I haven't responded because I'm not sure what the best approach is here.

I have a few questions circling around in my head either directly or indirectly related to this moment for me

I've heard I shouldn't answer questions directly. Is this true even in this scenario?

When is it okay to compliment a girl? How do I stay the prize, but still give her a carrot?

When a girl tells me thank you for the night, what do I say to that?

In regards to the dress I could say something like I have to see them on you. Which I think may be a bit too much and come off badly. Thanks for reading, any advice appreciated.