A three-step conceptual sequence for driving any interaction forward: banter, win, escalate.
Deliberately take a bland conversation and inject charge into it — via compliments, teasing, misinterpreting a word, or adding a new perspective/wrinkle. This overlaps with Push-Pull Teasing as a mechanism for creating charge.
Banter often draws pushback — a shit test (e.g. "I bet you say that to all the girls") — which must be won before proceeding. Winning means holding your frame and reframing the exchange in your favor (e.g. "That's really modest of you to think you're not special"), putting her in your frame rather than hers.
Only after winning the frame battle do you move the interaction to a deeper level. Escalating straight off a shit test or a negative reaction — without winning first — is called a disaster, not just a mistake. See Positive/Negative/Neutral Response Framework for the parallel rule that escalation only follows a positive/win signal, never a negative one.
"The banter part makes the interaction very fun. The win part puts her in your frame. And the escalate part moves things forward."