[quote=Kaga]
But despite all these criticisms, I have no issue with two characters in a roleplay forming a [b]natural-looking relationship.[/b] No problem at all. 
[/quote]

I played in a 1x1 RP where the two characters were childhood friends who hadn't seen each other in a long time, and quite literally bumped into each other as teenagers, and things went from there. So, not "love at first sight" in the normal sense, but still a "natural" progression, I would think. And certainly one way for a Romance to bud. Or... heh... explode into flowers and rainbows.