(07-25-2017, 01:55 PM)Dayuuqi Wrote: I've seen the spectrum on this personally over the past 10 years of RP.
I've had "whole foods organic" relationship RP that lasted for years and was full of ups and downs and was fantastic.  I've also had organic relationship RP that's been a freakin dumpster fire of annoyance and frustration OOC, no matter how well the characters seemed to get on.
My arranged relationship RP? Same thing, only often with less OOC trouble since both parties are going into it with a particular expectation. Sometimes it works out amazing IC and can make for a fun will-they-or-won't-they story of learning to love one another, especially if the arrangement is ALSO an arranged relationship IC, too. Sometimes, it turns out to be the worst idea ever conceived - the characters do not get along well at all despite what you expected (and not in the fun rivalmance sort of way) or even worse, the two characters are just freakin' boring together.Â
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Romance RP is always kind of a gamble, though. No matter how well you take the odds into consideration and count the cards, sometimes you still walk away from the table with nothing because it's a bad hand. While other times you just dump change into the slot machine and it spits out a jackpot out of nowhere. You just never know!
Represents my thoughts and experiences pretty well.  I enjoy it, and even if I don't have a character actively looking to get into a relationship I usually hope it happens and keep them open to it.  It can be a great way for a person to develop and a story to get an extra aspect that entertains and provides hooks for all. Â
These days, I don't mind some pre-arrangement.  Not to say "yes, they're together now." but to set up the possibility where both parties are keeping it in mind that something could happen. It's communication, it keeps things from devolving into a hot ooc mess, as with any other form of RP.  I've honestly had much better experiences this way than the whole foods approach.
