The Dutiful Son/Playing With

Basic Trope: Character who loyally stays and does his job while their prodigal sibling runs off into the spotlight. Calls the prodigal out for this upon their return, but eventually forgives them.

Straight: Robert and Roy are brothers; Roy runs off to chase his dreams of excitement and adventure while Robert follows his parents' wishes and tends the farm. When Roy finally returns after becoming a hero, Robert still calls him out for abandoning them before welcoming him home.
Exaggerated: In order to play the dutiful son, Robert is forced to sacrifice his own dreams and settle in. He nurses a grudge towards Roy for this, seeing his brother as selfish and irresponsible, but eventually forgives him after he returns.
Justified: The sadness of his departure put their mother to an early grave, and made their father go near catatonic. Robert had to pull through and keep the farm going and supporting their family all on his own. Roy's return only brings back bitter memories of his own sacrificed freedom and anguished parents.
Inverted: Their parents want both to leave and pursue their dreams, but Robert becomes a loafer and mooches off their parents, and gets angry at Roy for becoming successful.
Subverted: Both Robert and Roy leave to pursue their dreams, ignoring their other responsiblities.
- Alternately, Robert is hardworking, ambitious and eager to take over the family estate. He doesn't mind at all when Roy leaves to pursue his dreams, since they both know Robert would do a better job at it anyway, and the brothers part amiably.
Double Subverted: ...However, Robert is soon overcome by guilt and returns home, becoming The Atoner as well as the dutiful son.
- Alternately, Robert finds himself threatened by an evil villain who's trying to loot or conquer the family holdings. Being a Non-Action Guy, there's not a lot that Robert can do to protect himself. That's when Roy returns, having taken a level in badass and able to use his fighting or legal skills to pull a dramatic rescue, saving Robert and the family estate. In that way, Roy himself also functions as a Dutiful Son, having helped out the family in a way only he could./
Parodied: Roy leaves the "stifling oppression" of his duties and abandons home to pursue adventure. These duties were actually really light, Robert has a blast and Roy ends up going through a stream of bad and worse jobs because his quitter attitude never let him succeed. When he finally crawls back, Robert pretends to be suffering horribly and tells Roy that he's a bigshot.
Deconstructed: Without Roy around, Robert shoulders all the responsibilities his brother left behind; their parents drive him harder, wanting to ensure they "do things right" with him even while wondering whatever became of their wandering child. Discovering himself to be The Unfavorite despite doing everything his parents wished of him, Robert grows sick with jealousy and pent-up resentment. When Roy comes marching back into their lives, bursting with tales of glory, Robert turns him away, making it clear this isn't his home anymore.
Reconstructed: Robert realizes that, though his choice was hard, he has a clear conscience and doesn't hate Roy. On the other hand, Roy goes on to make his own life, and reconciles with the fact that you sometimes have to leave home behind. Both brothers come to an understanding, even though their parents still disapprove.
Zig Zagged: Roy leaves and everyone disapproves, except his parents are secretly proud of him for leaving, but Robert really does hate him, except it's for not being a bigger success after leaving...
Averted: Their parents give them the freedom to choose to stay or go, and explain they can always hire help, but no one can lead their children's lives for them.
Enforced: We need a tense family setting without lots of psychological trauma, so lets make one of the kids be a runaway.
Lampshaded: Robert teases Roy that he should be wearing a business suit, and Roy is glad that Robert isn't going on about him leaving.
Invoked: Alice wants to drive a wedge between Roy and Rob, so she tries to make Rob jealous that Roy left.
Defied: Both brothers agree that one of them has to stay to help out, and the other should go into the world to make money to further help their parents. They amicably decide that Roy has the best chance of making a go on the outside, while Robert least dislikes being dutiful.
Discussed: "Family reunions are always hard in this town. Just about every family has a prodigal son who comes back."
Conversed: "Maybe we can offer the farmer to find his prodigal brother? They always have one of those!" "I'm the prodigal, my parents were adventurers and Roy followed in their footsteps. Jerks."
Played For Laughs: Robert is angry Roy left him alone. The responsibility is dull and crushing, and to top it off both their parents die of grief! When Roy hears he comes back for the funeral, expecting nothing but anger and resentment... only to be met with love and affection. It turns out their parents were so devastated they left the farm to Robert alone. Robert gets such a good price he can live in luxury, have his own adventures and pursue his own ambitions with much greater freedom than he could have otherwise. Roy on the other hand has made a mess of his life, and goes to work as a farm hand to the new owner.
Played For Drama: Robert and Roy used to be close, but their relationship soured after Roy "ditched" their family and ran off. Years later, Roy returns only to find his brother is cold and distant towards him, acknowledging him as family but little else.

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