FR#18: Krishna, HK Lounge, and AA

Date: 2009-10-29 Thursday

Place--Subway, Hell's Kitchen Lounge, Pianos

Time--03:00

11 Approached

2 Hooked

0 #Closed

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Krishna tells me about a Halloween party at the Hell's Kitchen Lounge. Yes, I am down.

On the subway, two girls sit across from me and I have to open, but I AA like crazy. One of them mentions that it's so early - it's 11:30. "Hey, I've got an idea. I'm heading to a party with a friend. Come along guys." They are heading downtown to meet some friends.

Later, I approach a Chinese guy and ask him some questions about the tone of a character. With my fancy new jacket and black gloves, I feel like a thug, so I wonder if my look is intimidating. He is frightened until he realizes I'm an innocent, little college student who speaks Mandarin.

I exit the subway, and after AAing out of tons of sets on the sidewalk, I open a group of sailor-dressed guys and ask for directions.

I walk into a DuaneRead and open a three set of black 8s and 9s. I ask for directions to the HK Lounge even though I know how to get there. One girl invites me to party with them, but I'm meeting Krishna. What a stupid decision.

I grab some cash from an ATM and open the girl next to me who had been speaking French to her boy friend. "So, you guys are from France?" She backs away.

I wait at the club forever and get to know the errand boy of the club owner. He worked on Wall St until the economy imploded. He is almost finished with his broker certification - he tells me anyone can get it and start working, so it is something to look into. We fluff for about 20 minutes until Krishna arrives.

When Krishna hears what the club is like - he thought it was a lounge - he says he'd rather go to the Lower East Side. We head for Pianos.

In Pianos, I approach a Chinese two set. One speaks Canto, the other Mandarin. I ignore the Canto girl completely and talk with the Mando girl who translates for her friend. I know I am digging myself into a whole by not paying her friend attention, but I do it because I am too nervous to create conversation another way. Sure enough, the ostracized Canto girl announces, "We're going to the bathroom." I grin as they both leave - although I failed the set, I didn't die of AA.

Krishna meanwhile opens a set and I come in to wing him. He directs me to chat up one girl, but I can't break through the girl's icy exterior.

Krishna points to some guys and girls behinds and tells me to engage them. I open the set - it's a mixed four set: two guys, two girls. I chat up the guys, but then just talk with the girls. I stay in the set until the guys turn their back toward me, pushing me out. Krishna later tells me I should have rolled off way sooner and opened more sets.

We head upstairs and after dancing, Krishna opens a two set. I come in and try to wing him so he can isolate, but the set breaks. It is possible that my entry was too early, but I had said one sentence when the girls left - I think this was another case of failure to disarm the obstacle. Before I had entered, Krishna had only interacted with the target.

We leave and catch the subway. On the platform, Krishna opens are pretty Korean girl. A two set stands behind us - two women in their thirties - completely bored. After maybe ten minutes of AA, I approach them and we talk for five minutes until the train comes. I open with, "Guys! I am so bored. You look bored too."

Subway home is full of guys.