History PlayingWith / KickThemWhileTheyAreDown

** Jack develops a reputation as a sadist that destroys him in the long run (either because [[ZeroPercentApprovalRating people want nothing with such a cruel man]] or [[ScrewTheRulesTheyBrokeThemFirst because enemies, now knowing the full extent of his ruthlessness, will be even more ruthless themselves]]). Sometimes you just need to deal with the fight in front of you ''right now'', with (some semblance of) honor, not "[[Literature/EndersGame win all future fights]]".

* '''Defied''': Jack's lair is equipped with padded safety restraints which come down on a helpless person and shield him/her from further harm.

* '''Reconstructed''': But adhering to honor persuades the civilians that you are reliable, and they help you and your men.

** Tom is down but not out and

* '''Averted''': Jack ignores Tom once he is incapacitated, as he longer poses a threat.
* '''Enforced''': ???

* '''Exploited''': ???

** Tom is MadeOfIron and/or is a CombatPragmatist who has pulled ISurrenderSuckers or PlayingPossum before. Jack is DangerouslyGenreSavvy enough to know that OnceIsNotEnough.

** Or Jack made it up to justifying attacking him.

** ISurrenderSuckers means this risks the lives of your own comrades.

* '''Reconstructed''': But adhering to it persuades the civilians that you are reliable, and they help you and your men.

* '''Deconstructed''':
** ISurrenderSuckers means this risks the lives of your own comrades.
** The hero Jack nobly refuses to finish off the wounded, but doesn't take them prisoner; his foes end up dying slowly and painfully from dehydration, hunger, and animal attacks.
* '''Reconstructed''': But adhering to it persuades the civilians that you are reliable, and they help you and your men.

You wouldn't [[KickThemWhileTheyAreDown go back to the main entry while I'm down]], [[TemptingFate would you?]]

-KICK-

URK!
----

* '''Exaggerated''': Jack breaks into the hospital to kill all the wounded.

* '''Downplayed''': After Tom is down and can't fight back, Jack... sticks a needle in him.

* '''Justified''': Jack is sadistic and enjoys the feeling of tormenting those who are helpless.

* '''Inverted''': Being rendered helpless triggers Tom's bomb to kill Jack.
** Alternatively, Jack barely even seems to spare Tom a thought now that he's down, and goes after whoever's next. [[PragmaticVillainy Keep it businesslike.]]

* '''Double Subverted''': But Jack neither knew nor cared about that.

* '''Deconstructed''': ISurrenderSuckers means this risks the lives of your own comrades.

'''Basic Trope''': Attacking a helpless foe shows how evil you are.
* '''Straight''': Jack keeps on hitting and kicking Tom while Tom can't strike back.

** Jack caught Tom trying to slaughter innocents and beat him so badly that, in his rage, Jack doesn't realize that Tom can't fight back anymore.

** He had sent help, but the other villains had attacked the help, making rescue impossible.

* '''Enforced''': "The only real way to tell Jack apart from Tom is that Jack will attack a helpless person and Tom won't."

* '''Conversed''': He's wearing a black hat, of course he's going to kick -- there you go, he kicked him while he was down.

You wouldn't [[{{Kick Them While They Are Down}} go back to the main entry while I'm down]], [[{{Tempting Fate}} would you?]]

** Jack caught Tom trying to rape a little girl and fought him so furiously that, in his rage, Jack doesn't realize that Tom can't fight back anymore.

* KICK*

** Jack caught Tom trying to rape a little girl, and Tom fought so furiously that, in his rage, Jack doesn't realize he can't fight back now.

* '''Parodied''': Jack keeps on shooting Tom with paintballs even though he "incapiciated" him. Everyone else decries this as foul play.

* '''Discussed''': ???
* '''Conversed''': ???