History Main / DebtDetester

* ''Fanfic/DragonsDance'': Hunter hates that she owes Lance for giving her the moonstone piece that let her nidorina evolve. To make them even, she offers uncharacteristically offers to let him go [[spoiler: with his own token and one other to ensure that he makes it onto the command track of Team Rocket when she had Ibuki's Pokeball at her mercy and could've demanded ''all'' his tokens in exchange for her safe return.]]

* In ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', Q. In one of the early Q episodes, Picard shelters Q after Q has been [[MortalityEnsues made mortal]] temporarily. Q hates that he owes Picard a favor and tries to get Picard to name a favor so he can resolve the obligation. Of course, Picard knows that Q is TheTrickster and a LiteralGenie and refuses to accept repayment. Q's response is to make up a need of Picard's and "solve" it for him in an incredibly roundabout and dangerous way.

So Bob owes Alice big time. Maybe she saved his friend, or did something selfless for him, or risked her life for his, it doesn't matter. The thing is, Bob and Alice aren't friends. They might even be enemies. Where this trope comes in to play is when Bob inexplicably helps out Alice, usually followed by a "[[MakesUsEven Now we're even]]" from Bob. The key to this trope is that it's a one-shot deal; if Alice gets herself in trouble later it's her problem, not Bob's. Bob may even be the cause of her troubles. Bob might even be helping Alice in advance by his own initiative so she doesn't try to approach him with a YouOweMe scenario, a situation which may force Bob to operate under Alice's potentially unfavorable/undesirable terms.

* ''ComicBook/ElfQuest'': This is ostensibly Rayek's reason for helping Leetah to save Cutter's life after the disastrous battle with the snow trolls. In reality he probably did it out of compassion, though he'd never admit it.

* ''Fanfic/DragonsDance'': Hunter hates that she owes Lance for giving her the moonstone piece that let her nidorina evolve. To make them even, she offers uncharacteristically offers to let him go [[spoiler: with his own token and one other to ensure that he makes it onto the command track of Team Rocket when she had Ibuki's pokeball at her mercy and could've demanded ''all'' his tokens in exchange for her safe return.]]
* ''Fanfic/RipplesWavesTsunamis'': A severe understatement for Raijax when he hears about everything Luffy had done: beating Arlong, beating Hody, burning Enies Lobby to the ground, punching a World Noble in vengeance for a fishman, to save a mermaid, breaking Jinbe out of prison, diverting Big Mom's wrath from Fishman Island, and most recently, saving Nami from his berserk rage. He's extremely grateful, sure, but that just makes him more furious; he considers himself to have a mountain of debt to pay back, and he just met him!

* In ''Literature/HarryPotter'', James Potter saved Snape's life and it's implied that Snape protects Harry because he regrets not being able to save James' life in return. Or at least that's the story in the first few books, until it's revealed that [[spoiler:he also loved Lily]].
** Harry also saves Peter Pettigrew's life in the third book, by convincing Sirius to turn him in to the authorities instead of killing him. Dumbledore tells him this puts Pettigrew in his debt. This doesn't stop Pettigrew from helping set him up as a sacrifice to Voldemort, but does cause him to hesitate when he has the chance to kill Harry directly, [[spoiler:which ends up saving Harry's life as it causes Peter's cursed silver hand to strangle him to death]].
* Uncle Hoole of ''Literature/GalaxyOfFear'' is usually fine with owing people... but he hates to owe Jabba the Hutt, because Jabba ''always'' calls in favors. As a shapeshifter Hoole would make an excellent spy or assassin, but he's adamantly against doing that. Which doesn't mean he's not forced to ask for Jabba's help.

* Shran on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', vis-a-vis Archer. When Archer helps to reveal that the Vulcans ''are'' spying on Andoria, Shran's last shot before leaving is a pissed-off statement acknowledging that he owes Archer. He later turns up to bail them out, repaying the debt and then some--the two of them go back and forth with owing each other until a FireForgedFriendship evolves.

* In an episode of the ''Series/BuckRogersInTheTwentyFifthCentury'' TV series, Buck saves the life of Tigerman (Princess Ardala's bodyguard). Later, Buck is about to be executed and Tigerman threatens the Princess until she releases Buck. As Buck starts to leave, he asks Tigerman if he will be coming along (implied that they are now friends). Tigerman simply replies, "I owed you a life. We are now even," as he then warily looks at the Princess.

** SG-1 lets Nirrti go after she saves Cassandra's life. Nirrti is surprised, and mentions that, if the situation was reversed, she would not be so generous. Later on, Nirrti captures SG-1 and, when reminded of the incident, reminds them ''her'' words

* ''Videogame/FallenLondon:'' The institution that is the Bazaar appears to hate being in debt to anyone, and will downplay and hide it however possible while the Masters do their best to pay it off. And this is because [[spoiler:the Bazaar [[GeniusLoci itself]] has an irrational hatred of being in debt to anyone at all. A mysterious Creditor of an old, old debt is one of the game's {{Unseen Evil}}s because of the damage they could cause if they called the debt, and in one Ambition ending where the Bazaar is indebted to you it comes ''this'' close to liquidating the entire city of London and everyone in it just to pay it off as soon as possible, no matter how much of an inconceivable '''mess''' of death and destruction that would be]].

* In "Literature/TheGoblinWood" by Creator/HilariBell, that's how Makenna allies with the goblins. Their entire culture is based around paying back debts, and when she frees a goblin she finds she is stuck with a helper. It works out well for them, in the end.

* Loki in ''Comicbook/TheSandman'' turns out to have... strong views. [[spoiler:To the point that he only repays it by accident, while trying to kill the one he owes.]]

* In ''Film/{{Constantine}}'', [[spoiler:Satan]] appears to be one as he did not like owing Constantine a favor for getting him to save the world from [[spoiler:Satan's son.]] The debtor does find a price Constantine is willing to accept, then regrets it.

* ''Literature/SpinningSilver'': The Staryk [[TheFairFolk Fair Folk]] insist on honouring every bargain and can't stand to be unable to repay a debt, so much so that the wounded [[spoiler:Staryk King]] refuses life-saving aid until they agree on a fair price for it -- he'd rather die than [[IOweYouMyLife be irrevocably in debt]] to someone.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': The male Vinsmokes to Sanji, whose compassion is the only reason they survived an assassination plot. [[spoiler:After Sanji saves the Vinsmokes from the Charlotte Family, Judge finally agrees to respect Sanji's choices and leave him alone, but only because he doesn't want to owe Sanji anything. The Vinsmokes later help the Straw Hats escape, first from the Whole Cake Chateau, and then from Cacao Island. Subverted with Reiju, who is genuinely grateful to Sanji for both proving there was still compassion in their family and for saving her life.]]

** Harry also saves Peter Pettigrew's life in the third book, by convincing Sirius to turn him in to the authorities instead of killing him. Dumbledore tells him this puts Pettigrew in his debt. This doesn't stop Pettigrew from helping set him up as a sacrifice to Voldemort, but does cause him to hesitate when he has the chance to kill Harry directly.

* Literature/{{Discworld}} book ''Discworld/CarpeJugulum'' says that this is a key part of witch psychology and that if you really want to hurt a witch, then you need to do her a favor she has no way of repaying. The unfulfilled debt will always nag at her.

* Shang in ''Disney/{{Mulan}}'' spared the title character's life after she dishonored the Chinese army, in return for her saving his life during the Huns' attack.

* ''Literature/SpinningSilver'': The Staryk [[TheFairFolk Fair Folk]] insist on honouring every bargain and can't stand to be unable to repay a debt, so much so that [[spoiler:the Staryk King]] refuses life-saving aid until they agree on a fair price for it -- he'd rather die than [[IOweYouMyLife be irrevocably in debt]] to someone.

* ''Manga/OnePiece'': [[spoiler:The male Vinsmokes to Sanji, whose compassion is the only reason they survived the Charlotte Family's assassination plot. It is ultimately why Judge finally agrees to respect Sanji's choices and leave him alone, and why they later help the Straw Hats escape, first from the Whole Cake Chateau, and then from Cacao Island. Subverted with Reiju, who is eternally grateful to him for both proving there was still compassion in their family and for saving her life]].

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* ''Anime/ElfenLied'': Thoroughly despicable man he may be, but one of Bandou's policies is to repay any debts he owes. When he learns that Mayu is responsible for saving his life in an earlier fight, he gives her his phone number and tells her to call him if she's ever in trouble. [[spoiler:In the manga, he makes good on this promise by saving Mayu from being raped and killed by [[NoNameGiven The Unknown Man]].]]

'''Macbeth:''' I owed you.\\

* Shran on ''Series/StarTrekEnterprise'', vis-a-vis Archer. When Archer helps to reveal that the Vulcans ''are'' spying on Andoria, Shran's last shot before leaving is a pissed-off statement acknowledging that he owes Archer. He later turns up to bail them out, repaying the debt and then some--the two of them go back and forth with owing each other.

So Bob owes Alice big time. Maybe she saved his friend, or did something selfless for him, or risked her life for his, it doesn't matter. The thing is, Bob and Alice aren't friends. They might even be enemies. Where this trope comes in to play is when Bob inexplicably helps out Alice, usually followed by a "[[MakesUsEven Now we're even]]" from Bob. The key to this trope is that it's a one-shot deal; if Alice gets herself in trouble later it's her problem, not Bob's. Bob may even be the cause of her troubles. Bob might even be helping Alice in advance so she doesn't try to approach him with a YouOweMe scenario, a situation which may force Bob to operate under Alice's potentially unfavorable/undesirable terms.

So Bob owes Alice big time. Maybe she saved his friend, or did something selfless for him, or risked her life for his, it doesn't matter. The thing is, Bob and Alice aren't friends. They might even be enemies. Where this trope comes in to play is when Bob inexplicably helps out Alice, usually followed by a "[[MakesUsEven Now we're even]]" from Bob. The key to this trope is that it's a one-shot deal; if Alice gets herself in trouble later it's her problem, not Bob's. Bob may even be the cause of her troubles. Bob might even be helping Alice in advance so she doesn't try to approach him with a YouOweMe scenario, a situation which would force Bob to operate under Alice's potentially unfavorable/undesirable terms.