by Lucy
Keep it Realistic.
Though it can be tempting to have your character rush into a relationship, keep in mind that people don't usually recognise their One True Love at first sight. Most relationships start out as friendships which develop into romance as the pair gets to know each other better. Equally, most couples don't rush to get married a week after getting together; relationships take time to develop, and if pushed along too quickly are unlikely to work well. Your first two (newbie) characters may not be in a romantic relationship until you have been playing them for two months. This is because a) characters' personalities tend to become molded around their relationship unless they have been fully developed first, and b) new players generally exhibit a lack of realism in overly hasty relationships. This rule will be strictly enforced by the mentors for newbies, though it's a good guideline for everyone to follow with new characters to help develop them roundly.
Also remember that a lot of relationships don't work well. Think of all the awkward situations that can come up in real life; these are just as likely to happen in the roleplay, and can be very interesting to play. In fact, this happens more often than smooth, happy relationships. Arguments happen in many relationships, often about trivial things, and unless both the characters in the couple are mild mannered and avoid confrontation they're likely to occur in the roleplay. Even if they do avoid arguments, awkwardness and shyness can occur. Don't assume that your character knows the state of mind of the other character; one character may want to push the relationship onwards while the other character doesn't feel ready. One may be in the mood for romance while the other just wants to have a nap. There's potential for misunderstanding in any relationship and it's just the same in roleplay. Also, if your character is not morally strict or has difficulties committing to relationships, it's a possibility that they will be unfaithful, or your character may be cheated on, in which case they must have a reaction realistic to their character. If your character isn't naturally a forgiving person, they probably won't forgive infidelity easily just for the sake of their romance.
Another thing to consider is that many crushes don't proceed to relationships. Don't be afraid to have your character find his or herself smitten with someone who doesn't reciprocate the feeling--unrequited love or lust can be interesting to play and useful in character development.
An important part of keeping your character's relationship realistic is remembering the time period. Love was typically less of a factor in marriage than convenience; the woman got security and her husband's protection and the husband got someone to look after his house and give him children to carry on his name. Marriages were frequently arranged by the parents of those involved, particularly on the side of the woman, with this influence increasing higher up the ladder of social status. Nobles would almost certainly have an arranged marriage, while marriage would be more flexible for a common woman who lived by herself and had a job to support herself. There was also much more of a social stigma about sex before marriage, although this would be much more relaxed in Lower Corus than in Upper. Any very traditional or upper class characters would quite possibly have objections to it.
While the majority of the characters in the inn are heterosexual there are some who are homo/bisexual. Here again, the period comes into play: in the Middle Ages, homosexual behaviour was widely viewed as sinful, so again you should consider your character's views of homosexuality and how this would affect their behaviour towards sexual orientation.
Be Objective.
While it's always important to remember that you are not your character, this can be particularly important where relationships are concerned. Of course it's fine to enjoy playing your character with their significant other, but try your best not to get so emotionally involved that any difficulties in the relationship affect you as well. If your character's relationship is close to breaking up, your character may delude him or herself into thinking that everything's fine. Don't do so yourself. (This is called the in-character/out-of-character (IC/OOC) line, and it is one of the most important things you will learn as a roleplayer.) Equally important is to not make your character behave unrealistically in order to protect the relationship. Similarly, if you know something but your character doesn't, such as that their significant other has been unfaithful to them, your character will not know this until they find it out in the game. (More IC/OOC line.)
Linking to OOC knowledge, try not to plan relationships OOC. It isn't satisfying or anywhere near as fun as letting relationships appear realistically and slowly IC. Even if you are dead set on your character being in a relationship, let it happen when and where it will rather than planning a specific pairing. Don't force it.
Moderation is Key.
A little cuddling or kissing in the Inn is fine, but much more can become nauseating for others in the chat. If your couple favors public displays of affection, that's all right--but be prepared for other characters to mock or shout at them. If any of the players in the chat feel uncomfortable, they are also entitled to ask you either to tone the romance down or to take it to a private room. Remember that the chat is PG-13, so anything explicit or graphic is not allowed in the main chat. Check out the content guidelines on what a PG-13 chat allows for more details on this.