Daniel and Mary-Sue! (Er, that is if you're alright with doing two)
Daniel PleasantDaniel never really got past his high school glory days. Between his looks and his position as the star player of the school’s soccer team, he was popular and he reveled in it - dates with all of the prettiest or most popular girls in school, house parties with his friends, days out at the beach. Unfortunately, along with all the perks of his popularity, he wasn’t the most stellar Sim that ever lived. Instead, he lived up to the expectations of those around him by all but tormenting the less popular students - the artists, the “band geeks,” the “the math nerds.” They were nameless faces to him, barely worth his time except to become the victims of cruel commentary.
He went off to Sim State University with a full ride sports scholarship, where he continued the high life for most of his time there; he squeaked through with just-barely-passing grades, largely courtesy the students he paid off to write his term papers. With most of his time spent partying and chatting up the ladies, Daniel practically only went to class when he had to take an exam. His ego was soaring, built even further than it had been in high school, and he loved every second of it. Sometimes, he regrets this decisions in college and wishes he had put in a little more effort; usually, those times coincided with various injuries he sustained during his career.
As far as he knows, he met Mary-Sue not long before he graduated from college; he never managed to connect her face to a girl from high school. Regardless, the young woman aspiring toward greatness in politics captivated him, and he chased her like he’d never chased another Sim before. This was the first time he’d ever truly wanted to know a girl he’d met; he didn’t just want to woo and woohoo her. He was smitten, and he felt like he could listen to her talk for the rest of his life without ever hating the sound. Interestingly, she sparked an interest in political hot-topics for him; he would never want to go into politics himself, but he could understand where her interest and ambition came from. Moreover, he found himself supporting her positions more and more often. They married a few years after Mary-Sue graduated, and things were great at first.
But old habits died hard for Daniel. He claims that he tried to stay faithful, but Mary-Sue became increasingly focused on her career. In truth - the dark truth that he hates to admit - it’s really that his ego reared its head again the instant he felt himself losing Mary-Sue’s attention as she attempted to advance her political career. The maid was the most logical person to him, if only because she was there. He knows he’d lose everything if Mary-Sue ever found out, but that cocky, self-assured boy from Pleasantview High still lives on inside of him.
Interestingly, the best advice he’s ever gotten came from his father-in-law; Herb knows exactly the kind of man Daniel is, and he knows well the dark demons of at least considering straying. He told Daniel that, while they may be the type who would have to work five or even ten times as hard at it, being faithful to their love is always worth it in the end.
Daniel’s better at following that advice on some days than others.
Mary-Sue PleasantMary-Sue used to be the quiet, unassuming, mousy girl. Intelligent and creative, she spent the start of her high school years diving into artistic passions; along with her art classes, she was part of the art club, the school's concert orchestra, and the select string quartet, all while maintaining perfect grades. She loved pottery more than painting, though she happily partook in both.
Mary-Sue wasn't popular and, really, very few students even knew who she was at all until she'd nearly completed her sophomore year; that year, she had her first run-in with Daniel Pleasant, the popular senior star of the varsity soccer team. So disgusted by his general attitude and his insistence on calling her a "frumpy art freak," she gave him a piece of her mind. The incident led to great support from the art, music, and honors students, and a small group of students convinced her to run for student council president. With their support, she won the school elections for her final two years of high school. One of the students who helped her along the way was the mysterious and often cryptic Cassandra Goth.
Her time on the student council sparked an interest within Mary-Sue; she wanted to do more for community at large and she wanted to have a hand in all of the big decisions that would affect Pleasantview and Sim Nation. She studied law at Sim State University, hoping to springboard from the field of law into politics. Near the end of her sophomore year, she ran into Daniel Pleasant again for the first time in four years. It didn't surprise her in the least that little had changed about his lifestyle in that time and she was rather miffed that he had no idea who she was, but the time had granted him at least some maturity and Mary-Sue was intrigued. If nothing else, he was a great listener and helped her formulate a lot of positions, and there were many times during her her pre-law and law school days where he helped her study or prepare for mock trials by reading out opposing positions or old cases.
When she gave birth to the girls, Mary-Sue put her career on hold for a while, trying to give them the attention they needed, though it's debatable whether she succeeded in any measure. Once the girls were old enough to go to school, Mary-Sue dove into local politics. She dreams of becoming mayor one day, which her long-time best friend, Cassandra Goth, fully supports and endorses (which, incidentally, means she has the added support of the illustrious Goth family).
Sometimes, she regrets that her career has taken her away from her family. Other times, she isn't remotely sure what to think about it.
Interestingly, she hasn't done anything remotely artistic since high school. Her old passion sometimes flares up and she thinks about starting up pottery as a hobby again, but she simply doesn't have the time for it now. But she tells herself that will change one day. Even if that one day is only once she's old and gray.