So, I K-closed a 8 Italian/Russian. She asked me for my number and wanted a day-2.
We didn't manage to meet the next day both very busy but I called her really quick.

I text her yesterday saying, " Lets meet up in the week, so we can get to know each other better, let me know what times you're free"

So she replied,' Ok I will let you know but I'm usually very busy..."

I'm pondering being more assertive and saying "I'm going to club on Tuesday, you should come ..bla bla bla"

but then I always think it would be good to build a bit of rapport and try and flirt a bit before 2nd meet. The only issue is that she has a basic grasp of English....

Has anyone got a straight forward, playful reply that might build from the context of her being "usually very busy". I really want to move away from technical stuff and make things light and giggly

In my opinion, the fact that u didn't manage to meet up & she says she's usually very busy is def not a good start and is quite tricky to recover from that.

I think u went wrong with ur text as well and I'll explain:

1) "Let's meet up in the week" - shows indecisiveness. Tell her when u'r free on a weeknight and that she should join u for whatever you've planned. Come across as busy and like you have lots going on.

2) "so we can get to know each other better" - way too AFC

3) "let me know what times you're free" - you're too available here, like u said, be more assertive

I would rather have texted something like this:

Ciao *her name*, there's this really cool place in town where I'm heading tomorrow where *insert fun personal joke*, you should come join, will be laugh! P.s. One can never be too busy for a fun time, well that's if you can handle it...

You right in saying the language barrier makes it hard thou! I once was so relieved to get rid of this russian HB 9 just because I literally just couldn't speak to her + she was kinda cooked in the brain as well, haha! But Good luck anyhows!