I am in love with a world where a world still turns even while your character is standing still. That being said, I would point you at this pretty, pretty thread as some responses are quite pertinent, at least to your first question.
NPCs romancing NPCs is quite different from romanceable NPCs romancing other romanceable NPCs.
Edit: Ah, @Sashira, won by a fingernail. Well, a whole well-thought-out hand, really…