Talking to Strangers: New York, NY

Nerve asks deeply personal questions to people we just met.

Maxime, 25

What do you do for a living?
I'm a high-school teacher in France.

Are you French?
Yes. I'm on holiday. I'm traveling around the East Coast.

Bienvenue aux États-Unis.
Merci.

So, does being a high-school teacher get you dates?
No and yes. No, because all my coworkers are engaged. Yes, because when I go to bars, girls like that I work with kids. They think I will make a good father or something.

When it comes to dating, do you have any moves?
Oui. Je parle Français. Et les femmes adorent les hommes Français.

Wow. You French guys are good.
Merci. But honestly, I also smile a lot. Make a lot of eye contact. I think this is important. The woman understands that I like her. And also that I am confident. I'm not afraid to look at a beautiful woman and tell her she is beautiful.

What's your favorite hookup story?
Hmm, it's hard to choose one. I guess it is cliché, but a ménage à trois.

It's cliché but still interesting. What happened?
Nothing too exciting. We were all friends and at this party. We were drinking and ended up in the bathroom together. Girls always need to go to the bathroom together it seems. I never understood why. Maybe it's because they want to have sex together with a man. Anyway, I followed them because they had been smiling at me all night. And then we had sex. Nothing crazy.

Having sex with two girls in a bathroom during a party seems pretty crazy to me.
That's because you are an American.

Duly noted. Do you have any sex goals?
To have sex with many girls at once.

More than two?
Three would be perfect.

Why perfect?
Because there are three parts of me that I like touched. Would you like to know where?

 

Aishling, 20

What do you do for a living?
I'm going to college for nursing in Dublin. But right now I'm waitressing in New York City. I grew up in Ireland, but I was born in the Bronx.

Do either of your jobs get your dates?
Yes. College definitely because I go out in the city a lot. I meet a ton of people because I'm really open and friendly. And waitressing is a definite too. I get a lot of numbers. But I never really call them back. I'm not interested in any of the guys at the pub where I work.

Why's that?
Eh, they're too old and we don't have anything in common.

Do you have any dealbreakers when it comes to dating?
I hate when a guy talks too much. Most men need to listen more and not take over the conversation. They need to get to know the girl. But also, they can't be too quiet.

Do you have a move?
Just acting extra-flirty and interested in what they have to say. I make a lot of eye contact too. Laugh at their jokes. But I make them make the effort. I mean, I would never ask a guy out. Maybe it's a confidence thing. But I think the guy should be the one making the move to ask the girl out, or for her number, or for a kiss, or for whatever.

I'm surprised. You seem like a very confident woman.
Looks are deceiving.

Where's the craziest place you've had sex?
I was on holiday with my ex and we had sex on the balcony of our hotel. People definitely could have seen us.

What's the weirdest thing someone's asked you to do in the bedroom?
Take a video. I would only do that with a boyfriend though. Never with a stranger.

So you've made home videos?
Just one. But I wasn't too into it. It wasn't like both of us were in the shot. It was more of a Paris Hilton video. He was taking it with his phone so only I was in the shot. It's not hot just looking at yourself, you know?

 

Michael, 29

What do you do for a living?
Bouncer.

Does this job get you dates?
Yes. I don't know why that is though. Something about girls and authority.

Would you say you're authoritative in the bedroom?
I guess. I do like to take control... a little hair pulling, a little spanking...

No offense, but you don't seem like an overly authoritative person.
I'm very bashful.

Do you have a move?
Nah, I'm too shy. Most of my could-be relationships end in friendships because of this. I'm too afraid to make a move. I don't really pursue girls.

What's your favorite hookup story?
Last year, I was working, and this chick who came in kept talking to me. She was really hot. My boss saw her talking to me all night. He knew what was going on. So he finally came over and told me to "take a break." He helped me out a lot that night. We ended up in the bathroom.

The handicap bathroom?
How did you know?

Lucky guess. Where's the craziest place you've had sex?
In a van.

That's not too crazy.
It was outside of a playground.

Interesting.
It wasn't anything like that. The girl was late to meet her boyfriend. So we just picked a random spot. It happened to be outside of a playground.

Do you have any sex goals?
What do you mean?

Like a threesome?
Been there.

Sex in a taxi?
Who hasn't?

Me.
Sucks.