We're later than usual, but there's a pretty good reason behind it. :)
Anyways, big thanks to LRW, Mickey12Boo, ABEDFAN, Dirtkid123, Hithere, AlienGhostWizard14, Visatoarea10, and daphrose for the reviews and prompts! I have replied to none of you, and the reason of why that is goes back to the note above, but I will try to do better tomorrow.
Just a side note: daphrose, you're a rockstar in reviewing! You did it in a streak! That's amazing! :D
I have to apologize in advance to Dirtkid123. I didn't send you a night-before alert like I said I would and I'm sorry. Things were just crazy, and I barely had time at the computer today. But, with that aside, Dirtkid123's prompt is what was used for this day's entry. The suggestion was Donald becoming jealous of Chase and Douglas bonding. I hope I did it justice!
Anyways, onto day eleven!
/day eleven/
Prompt: (from Dirtkid123) jealousy
Featured LR character(s): Donald, Chase, and Douglas
"Rivalries"
After all, one's an incident, two's a coincidence, and three's a pattern. And the pattern was telling him that his son would rather spend time with his uncle than spend time with him.
The first time it happened, Donald didn't think much of it.
After finally being freed from his responsibilities in the company, he was able to get some down time to spend on the Academy, but seeing how he had been neglecting his children a bit (or a lot, if he was to be very, very honest), he decided to forego his administrative duties so he could be with his teenagers. Chase, specifically, because it had been a while since he had done anything with his younger son.
He had invited him to come back to the lab at Mission Creek with him to look over some of his newer inventions, but, surprisingly, he refused. Chase said he and Douglas had already planned to work on a few new devices they came up with, all of which should help in teaching the students. The young genius did apologize and told him that maybe he could check out the gadgets his father made the next time. Then, after grabbing a roll of what seemed to be blueprints from the table, he hurried out of the room.
Donald just shrugged at that then moved on to the other three remaining children.
The second time it happened, he found it odd, but like on the first time, he just waved it away. Before flying to New York, he asked Chase if he wanted to tag along and visit the Metropolitan Museum with him while they were there. He just knew his son would be excited about it; the Met was one of the places he had wanted to go to but had never gotten a chance to visit. However, Chase regrettably informed him that he had already made plans with Douglas to go to a lecture that would be given by a renowned mechanical engineer at MIT. Again, his son apologized. He asked him if they could reschedule since he 'really, really want to go but this is a rare lecture,' and Donald, of course, told him they would.
Still, inwardly, he felt a bit disappointed and saddened that his offer had again been turned down.
The third time it happened, Donald began sensing that something was out of place. He made an elaborate preparation for a trip to Japan so Chase could see Davenport Industries' newest branch there (since he does, one day, plan to hand the company over to him) and so that he would get to discover the many advanced technologies that the country had to offer, but when he was told about it, Chase said that he and Douglas were in the brink of perfecting their newest invention and therefore, he couldn't leave.
Donald tried to persuade him to go, but Chase only apologized profusely and refused politely. Of course, he had no choice but to accept this. Still, it didn't change the fact that he was starting to become suspicious.
After all, one's an incident, two's a coincidence, and three's a pattern.
And the pattern was telling him that his son would rather spend time with his uncle than spend time with him.
Tasha had pointed out to him that his suspicions were not suspicions but instead jealousy of Douglas' seemingly stronger relationship with Chase, but Donald didn't want to accept that. He wasn't the kind of man to be jealous when it came to his children's relationship with others, especially their relationship with his brother. Douglas was their uncle, and naturally uncles would do and let them do things that their parents wouldn't do and let them do. That was their role, and that was why they were liked. Douglas seemed to be filling that role well because the children did appear to have some partiality towards him. Donald was glad that they do. He actually supported that.
Oh, really? Donald could almost hear his wife's voice at the back of his head as he walked towards the quarters. If you're not, how come you're trying to upstage your brother with those very expensive concerto tickets? He shuffled the stubs he had in his hands, realizing then how much he was hoping that Chase would accept this offer and not turn him down again.
Maybe Tasha was right. Maybe he was feeling jealous.
Stepping inside the quarters, he found Chase alone by the desktop, frowning at the screen as he worked on something. Noticing him come in, though, Chase looked up to acknowledge him. "Oh, hey, Mr. Davenport," he said.
"Hey, Chase. How's it going?" he asked with a smile.
"Okay. I finally got a chance to just sit down and relax," Chase said.
"So you're not busy with anything?"
Chase shook his head. "Not really at the moment, no," he said. "Why?"
"Oh, nothing. I just wanted to make sure that these would be received well." Donald placed the tickets on the desk, and then waited for the boy's reaction.
"Whoa, what?" Chase exclaimed excitedly as he picked up the tickets and stood up. He stared at them, making sure they were real. "I've been trying to get these for months! How'd you get them, Mr. Davenport?"
"Oh, come on, Chase," Donald said with a pleased smirk. "What part of 'rich and powerful' don't you get?"
Chase chuckled in disbelief. "Oh, this is unreal," he muttered to himself.
"Well, this is absolutely real," Donald said, unable to notice how Chase had suddenly frowned when he saw what was printed on it. "I got those for you. I was thinking that, you know, the two of us could go. Like a boys' night out. I figured you may enjoy it."
"Um, Mr. Davenport?"
"Yeah."
"This is tomorrow night?"
Donald looked at Chase half-suspiciously. "Yeah. Why?"
Chase visibly deflated. "Oh, no…"
"What. What's the matter?"
"Douglas just bought our tickets to a Kenny G concert two days ago, and the concert's tomorrow night," Chase said. "I already told him I would go."
"Wait, Kenny G? Since when did you start listening to jazz?"
Chase frowned. "Since Grandma Rose introduced me to it four years ago?" he said, not quite sure why his father didn't know that information about him.
"Oh. Well, can't Douglas just pick another day and exchange the tickets?" Donald asked.
"No, I don't think so," Chase answered. There was an apologetic tone in his voice, and it clued Donald into the possibility that this may once again be a lost battle for him.
Before Chase could say he was sorry, Donald said, "Chase, I… We haven't been able to do anything together for the past six months."
"I know," Chase said remorsefully, "but we've both been busy."
"Yeah. We have. That's why I'm making time now," Donald said with a small smile. "I mean, I know hanging out with your old man may not be in your list of top priorities—"
"Don't say that, Mr. Davenport."
"—but, I still want to be able to do things with you."
Chase looked at his father, and it was evident through his eyes that he felt bad. "I do, too, Mr. Davenport. Believe me. I do," he said. "But, Douglas, he… I'm sorry, but he always asks first, and I give him my word that I'd go to wherever he wants to go or do what he's proposed that we do. I can't back out on him. That means turning back on what I say, and I know you told us not to do that."
Donald mentally slapped himself over the head. Why did he have to teach his children to be reliable?
It was then that Douglas stepped into the quarters, frowning at the two metallic cylinders, both differing in size, that he was holding. "Hey, which of these two did we need for the engine again?" he asked.
Chase glanced at his father remorsefully then answered his uncle. "Bigger one."
Douglas nodded. "Oh. Huh," he said pensively. He looked up to his brother, expression unchanging. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Donald's jaws locked then unlocked. "My Academy? My island?" he pointed out.
"Hm. Being territorial today, are we?" Douglas said, paying his brother no attention.
Seeing the awkward situation that was starting to develop, Chase decided to make an exit. "Is it still at the vault? The engine?" he asked.
"Yep."
"Yeah, why don't I finish that now? I can do it," Chase said, holding a hand out for the bigger cylinder.
Though confused, Douglas handed it over to him. "Alright. I guess," he said as he watched Chase briskly speed out of the room, marching out with a purpose. His brows quirked in curiosity.
Unlike his brother, Donald knew why Chase left and was actually glad that he did because of the things he was about to say. "So, you and Chase are going somewhere again tomorrow," he said, notably unhappy and quite livid.
"Yeah. Jazz concert," Douglas said absently. "Not in the nosebleed section this time. I think he's looking forward to it."
"Reschedule it," Donald demanded calmly.
Douglas looked at him with a frown. "Beg your pardon?"
"The concert. Reschedule it," Donald said. "I'll even pay for it, if necessary."
"Why?"
"Because I want to take Chase to a concert tomorrow, and he can't go because he told you he'll go with you."
Douglas stared at him a while, deciphering what had caused his older brother to make such an unusual demand. Then, when it came to him, he said, "Did you switch to a new hair gel or something? 'Cause you're talking crazier than normal."
"Douglas, I mean it. Tell him you'll reschedule."
"No. We've been waiting on this for a long time now."
"'We'? Since when did you and Chase become so close that you've turned to 'we'?"
"Since you start putting more importance on the company and the island than you put importance on him," Douglas said. "And before you disagree with me, you should check your track record for the past six months first. It's far from stellar, brother."
"Yeah, fine, okay – I haven't been very good, but I'm seriously trying here," Donald pointed out. "I want to spend time with my son, and you keep undermining those plans. You're keeping him so busy that he can't do anything with me. What am I supposed to do?"
Douglas walked over to the desk where Chase had left the tickets for the concerto, picked them up, and then handed them over to his brother. "I guess you're going to have to try harder," he challenged. Then, he walked away.
After Douglas vanished into the same hall Chase had vanished to, Donald looked down on the tickets, determined more than ever to best his brother. Consider it done, he thought to himself as he hatched a scheme to accomplish just that.
Reviews are appreciated!
