History Main / HospitalityForHeroes

* In ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyX'', the shopkeeper O'aka actually would give you a discount, but in his case only if you had donated a large sum of money to him when he was struggling to get his business off the ground. That point in time was at the beginning of the game, and you were likewise probably low on funds. Otherwise, he charges almost double what any other shop would. [[SuspiciousVideoGameGenerosity He also seems to suspiciously follow you around, to make sure you're prepared for upcoming fights.]] In ''VideoGamer/FinalFantasyX2'', he sells at discounts to begin with, but mostly because he has debts to pay, and if you buy enough from him to pay off his debt, he'll lower his prices to ridiculously cheap values.

* In the ''VideoGame/{{Pokemon}}'' games, Nurse Joy's healing service is always free to everyone. Later games have the actual Poké-Marts in the Centers, suggesting that's where her funding comes from.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' invokes the trope - and then subverts it. In the first town you visit, Lothering, the party rescues a pair of dwarven merchants, Bodahn and Sandal Feddic, from being attacked. Because you saved their lives (and inventory), Bodahn insist on accompanying the party from that point onward, setting up their wagon in the party camp. This is good, because it means there's always a convenient merchant and it also gives the party the ability to add runes to weapons. However, Bodahn also insists that he gives you a hefty "hero's discount" on your purchases, and mentions it frequently. ''This is a lie.'' It's easy to overlook, but Bodahn's prices are actually slightly ''higher'' than most of the other merchants in the game!

* In ''Fanfic/BeyondHeroes: Of Sunshine and Red Lyrium,'' the barmaid Flissa in Haven offers Varric and the newly minted [[VideoGame/DragonAgeInquisition Herald of Andraste]] on the house. In his case, it's because he rescued her from the unwanted attentions of a ruffian prior to the start of the story.

* In ''Film/BadAss'' Frank gets a free bottle of tequila from a shopkeeper as thanks for beating up two armed robbers.

* In the early ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books, Harry's reputation as "the boy who lived" gets him this treatment. It's especially prominent in the third book, while he's staying in Diagon Alley until the new term (e.g. the local ice cream vendor both helps him with his homework and gives him free Sundaes, the minister for magic basically lets him off the hook for ''inflating his aunt'', and so on). Of course, the fact that everyone is relieved he hasn't been killed by Sirius Black helps.

* The last episode of ''Series/EverybodyLovesRaymond'' ends with the show's usual "Where's Lunch" VanityPlate, but this time, instead of food, we see a bill reading "NO CHARGE", The idea is that it's [[Thanking TheViewer a show of gratitude]] after nine seasons of the viewers being loyal customers.

* In real life: It's common for soldiers, cops, firefighters et al. to get free drinks from bartenders. American Airlines lets military traveling on orders use their [[{{Irony}} Admiral's]] Club lounges for free (they still have to pay for meals but they waive the other fees), Air Canada lets traveling military check as many bags as they wish for free (whether traveling on orders or as civilians), and all airports in Canada and the US let military use their Priority Security Clearance lanes for free. Many ''many'' places will give discounts our outright freebies to said people in uniform or who flash an ID card as well.

* In real life: It's common for soldiers, cops, firefighters et al. to get free drinks from bartenders. American Airlines lets military traveling on orders use their [[{{Irony}} Admiral's]] Club lounges for free (they still have to pay for meals but they waive the other fees). Many ''many'' places will give discounts our outright freebies to said people in uniform or who flash an ID card as well.

* The original ''Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers'' weren't charged by Ernie for their juices and smoothies. WordOfGod states that it was because he figured out they were the Franchise/PowerRangers. Some WMG states that it was because it was about the least he could do for the child labor of teenagers teaching martial arts classes for free in his gym.

* As an aversion, SpiderMan complains in ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'' that they're being charged exorbitant prices in a heroes' bar, though this is the response to the lack of HeroInsurance.

* A [[TheMenInBlack Plumber]] from ''WesternAnimation/Ben10'' was releasing aliens and then capturing them again explicitly for this trope.

* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12307781/11/Heroes-Assemble Heroes Assemble]]'' the Avengers walk into HarryPotter's cafe after the Chitauri invasion and he announces that "superheroes don't pay here."

** Many NPCs will give you healing items when you speak to them from the time you leave Besaid until you reach the Macalania Temple because they see Yuna as a hero for going on her summoning quest to bring a calm to Spira. This stops after your team is branded traitors for attacking and defeating Maester Seymour.

* In ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', many merchants will reduce their prices (down to, with enough barter skill, selling at cost) if you do good deeds for their faction. The Kings regularily give you free stuff if you've helped out the people of Freeside, and the Brotherhood of Steel provide you with surplus ammo if you've helped them. Likewise in ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 3}}'', settlers in Megaton would give gifts to a hero protagonist, while slavers in Paradise Falls would reward a villain. In ''VideoGame/{{Fallout 4}}'', Mrs. Abernathy will offer a discount on the items she sells if you bring her daughter's locket back from the raiders who killed her.

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles19987'', Leonardo and Michelangelo are shopping in a supermarket when two goons try to hold it up. They respond and catch the crooks, but they have to split before the cops show up, so they ask the cashier if she can ring them up quickly. Seeing as they just saved her life, she tells them it's on the house.

* In ''Harry Potter and the Amulet of the Moon'', Harry mentioned in a ''Daily Prophet'' article that he "couldn't and wouldn't accept free service or merchandise from any business, much as he appreciated the intentions of those who made such offers."

* ''Film/CowboysAndAliens'': The bartender's wife lets Jake have a drink for free after he stood up to the town bully.

* Literature/{{Discworld}}

** Vimes spends some time pondering this trope at one point. Vimes is [[TheLastDJ famously incorruptible]] and [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge reacts violently]] to people trying to bribe him, and he also knows that local merchants offering discounts or free goods for watchmen isn't really altruistic, it's an attempt to get the watch on their side. Regardless, Vimes considers it too petty to get worked up about, knows that the free or discounted stuff the watch get from merchants is a perk of the job, and that attempting to curtail it would wind up with the watch up in arms. He's even willing to consider that maybe a tiny fraction of the merchants are even just sincerely showing their gratitude.
* In the early ''Literature/HarryPotter'' books, Harry's reputation as "the boy who lived" has gotten him this treatment. Particularly in the third book, while he's staying in Diagon Ally until the new term (e.g. the local icecream vendor both helped him with his homework and gave him free Sundaes, the minister for magic basically let him off the hook for ''inflating his aunt'', etc)...although the fact that everyone was relieved he hadn't been killed by Sirius Black helped.
** In ''Deathly Hallows'', it's revealed that Alberforth Dumbledore has been giving free food to the members of Dumbledore's Army, even though they are all wanted by the Death Eaters.

* Literature/{{Serpico}} discovers that this trope has become corrupted over time -- despite receiving a meal allowance, police officers still expected free meals. Serpico noticed the free meal was often leftovers or something that wasn't selling well, so he starts paying for his meal. This so alarms the cafe owner he chases Serpico down the street with his money. After some argument they agree that Serpico will pay cost only, while leaving a large tip for the waitress. He then found the staff treating him with a lot more appreciation.

** In fact, Sherlock's apartment is a similar situation. Mrs Hudson's husband was accused of murder. He assured the conviction.

* In one episode of ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'' -- Friday and Gannon had just busted a perp before he could go after a restaurant owner. Immediately afterwards, a line of dialogue reveals that the cops haven't had lunch yet. The restaurant owner immediately offers a free lunch; when they refuse she tells them to sit down and order anyway, [[LoopholeAbuse there's nothing controlling the size of the portions she serves them]].

* At one point in ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'', Joan's father uncovers a large conspiracy within the municipal government and calls in the FBI. The FBI remove all heads of various municipal agencies including Joan's father who is Chief of Police. But the community still knows who the real hero is.

* Inverted and discussed in ''Monster Girl Quest'', when a shopowner claims that all merchants dislike the church because they are expected (or rather forced) to give heroes such huge discounts that they have a hard time making ends meet. On the other hand, one of those examples seen which happens to be absolutely hilarious, is this: Luka, a little boy, defeats Granberia, one of the most powerful monster girls in the world by showing courage and the will to improve (something Granberia honours), then Luka and his companion Alice show up at an inn to spend the night. The daily rate is the ludicrous amout of 4.8 MILLION gold for the two of them but since Luka is a hero, the amount is reduced to... 4. The best part here is that the inn keeper makes it crystal clear that she will send the rest of the bill directly back to the church, the same people enforcing the discounts for "heroes" in the first place. It also helps that she saw Luka acting like a real hero, so her opinion of him and Alice is decidedly better than of those who flee at first sight of a monster, like many other "heroes" did when spotting Granberia.

* As an aversion, SpiderMan complains in WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC that they're being charged exorbitant prices in a heroes' bar, though this is the response to the lack of HeroInsurance.

** Happens in convenience stores as well. Some chains even have it as store policy that police get free coffee and fountain drinks, plus counter space to do their reports if they want it. Enlightened self interest; when your place of work is often seen as a very large free ATM, having police hanging around or known to commonly come in, at the cost of a few drinks is cheap insurance.

* In the ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' games, healing your Pokémon at the Pokémon Centers (which seem to be everywhere) is always free, no questions asked.

* Literature/{{Discworld}} has this with respect to the often heroic Witches. Granny Weatherwax and Nanny Ogg often offer to pay for something, but they nearly always get it for free. This is because the Lancrastrians both love and fear witches.

Publicly being TheHero can sometimes be a thankless task. The bad guys know where to find you, your loved ones can get StuffedInTheFridge, and the only solace sometimes is that you passed WhatYouAreInTheDark. On top of that, it's generally just stressful work.

Even for a normal person, similar things can apply. NoGoodDeedGoesUnpunished, or you simply don't come out on top on karma. After you spent your pocket money replacing something for a kid who just got robbed, you don't have cash for the place you were going to have your only meal of the day at while you contemplated what to give up to pay the late rent.

It could even be AllAPartOfTheJob. Being a social worker or the [[SternTeacher subjectively "mean", but effective teacher]] can be thankless, and often doesn't even pay well.

Fortunately, there's another rare soul who's also good, and does what they can to help. This soul is also a business person, and at explicit cost to herself, provides the good with a good. Need a shopkeeper to show gratitude to the hero who saved the town from the villain? The hero will not be allowed to pay for goods/food/drink. Want to show someone who does the good deed for a living is also exceedingly honest? Have them decline such an offer.

* A [[TheMenInBlack Plumber]] from ''{{Ben 10}}'' was releasing aliens and then capturing them again explicitly for this trope.

* In real life: It's common for soldiers, cops, firefighters et al. to get free drinks from bartenders. American Airlines lets military traveling on orders use their [[{{Irony}} Admiral's]] Club lounges for free (they still have to pay for meals but they waive the other fees).

[[folder:Anime And Manga]]

[[folder:Comics]]

* Typically pops up when one of the more dark and brooding characters (or SpiderMan) is being given a HopeSpot after a long period of thanklessness, or in a SliceOfLife bit between more epic storylines. One memorable bit was Comicbook/{{Daredevil}} making his nightly rounds and stopping by at this one hot dog cart; he had saved the guy from a mugging and possible murder a while back, and the grateful man would often give him a freebie. Not just for that one act, but generally making New York safer. "Good thing, too; not much room for a wallet in this spandex." Matt also occasionally gets free meals from restaurant owners who know his "secret".

[[folder:Fanfiction]]

[[folder:Film]]

* In ''Film/RugratsInParis'', when [[WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}} Stu Pickles]] is summoned to repair [=EuroReptarland=]'s giant Reptar mecha, Coco [=LaBouche=] lets Stu and [[TrueCompanions his entire traveling party]] stay at the resort for free. Unfortunately, it's about the only decent thing she does in the entire movie.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]

* On ''{{Series/Fringe}}'', a bartender in the alternate universe refuses to let Agent Broyles pay for his drink. This is because he recognizes Broyles as one of the law enforcement officials who helped deal with a major disaster (a gigantic vortex) years before; he tells Broyles that his money is no good there, because the world needs more heroes like him.

* ''VideoGame/{{Rabi-Ribi}}'' has Miriam offer to give her wares to Erina for free, but Erina turns it down, making it a voluntary form of NoHeroDiscount for her.