History Main / KeepTheReward

* {{Downplayed|Trope}} near the beginning of ''[[Literature/TheScholomance The Golden Enclaves]]'', after [[CurbStompBattle chasing down and one-shotting]] the maw-mouth that would have otherwise consumed (note: [[FateWorseThanDeath not killed]]) everyone in the London Enclave that did not run fast enough, Galadriel Higgins felt herself obliged to demand some significant price of the Enclave's leadership mainly because the son of it's probable next Dominus had pre-emptively [[TheIgor geased himself to indefinite servitude]] if the Council did not do so. Therefore after [[KnightErrant blowing off a membership offer]] El requested:

** Vash was promised a reward by the head of a caravan to ensure that his son doesn't run off with his slave girl-girlfriend. Vash then proceeds to gun the two down in the middle of the desert before claiming the reward. It turned out that he [[Main/StagedShooting only shot them with rubber bullets]] and the reward Vash was given was handed off to the couple in order to be able to start a new life. The couple then turned down the money and vehicle, insisting they wanted to make their own way.

* ''FanFic/EscapeFromTheMoon'': Doa/[[spoiler:Spliced Genome is offered a chance to escape from the moon early, traveling to another world where she can aid and be aided by the mysterious voice, both gaining vengeance on their respective captors. Spliced turns them down, since she doesn't want to indebt herself to another when she's aware she'll escape on her own eventually.]]

-->'''Sherlock:''' I don't need incentives, Sebastian. ''(walks away)''
-->'''John:''' He's kidding you, obviously. Shall I look after that for him? ''(takes the cheque and gawks at it momentarily)''

** In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'', you almost always have the option to refuse rewards. There's no KarmaMeter penalty or punishment for grubbing for a bigger reward (some quests actually give you a reward [[EvilPaysBetter only if you demand one]]) but it does affect RelationshipValues. Self-serving party members like Morrigan and Sten will disapprove if you refuse rewards, while [[GoodSamaritan Good Samaritans]] Alistair and Leliana will approve. Sometimes this can make it ''more'' satisfying to turn down rewards as you get to see the grateful reaction of the person you just helped or just a funny line.

* Reiji in ''VisualNovel/KaraNoShoujo'' refuses payment for solving the first case on the grounds that he was not able to stop an additional murder from occurring.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', [[FragileSpeedster Kid Flash]], who likes to collect souvenirs from his missions, is offered [[TheEvilPrince Count Vertigo's]] SwordCane for stopping his plan to steal [[AChildShallLeadThem Queen Perdita's]] donor heart. He declines it, instead taking [[spoiler:the case he had used to bring the heart to her]].

* ''Fanfic/MariaCampbellOfTheAstralClocktower'': Maria dismantles a SexSlave ring, kills a corrupt noble, and finds further evidence of the Dark magic conspiracy that the crown has been hunting for months. [[IWasJustPassingThrough She sees nothing special about any of this]], and refuses to even be reimbursed for the money she spent at the inn to quarter the slaves. Later, when she takes responsibility for feeding and housing the former slaves on a permanent basis, she mentions that her funds are stretched tight.
-->"Maybe if you'd gotten a large amount of money, perhaps as some sort of reward, that would have been less of an issue," the Third Prince said, returning to flatness.\\

* ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Subverted in Season 1 when the Senlin village leader asks if there's anything the village can do for the heroes and Sokka immediately says "You could give us some supplies, and some money." Katara admonishes him and he replies, "What? We need stuff."

** Played straight in the episode "The Old Man and Lisa". Lisa helped Mr. Burns regain his fortune by performing environmental services and was horrified when he used that knowledge to make Lisa's Patented Animal Slurry. Mr. Burns offered her 10% of his earnings as payment to her as his adviser which equaled 12 million, which she refused.
* Outright ''inverted'' on ''{{WesternAnimation/Futurama}}'': Bender, after winning the title of "Iron Cook," declines the title, suggesting instead the "lesser" title "Zinc Saucier." He then explains that he just made the title up on the spot, and also, it comes with double prize money.

* In the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' supplement ''Book of Exalted Deeds'', there's a justification for refusing the reward (or at least all of it): upon hearing that whatever's been attacking has been defeated, people might give up more than they really have to spare, and if the players accept it, they'd be in for harder times as they tried to rebuild.

* In the first episode of ''Anime/LostUniverse'', Cain is under contract to recover a valuable heirloom. When he finishes this task, he only takes 5 credits (out of the ten million he was promised), and tells the little girl who hired him to take care. Canal isn't too pleased.

---> '''[[spoiler:Alistair]]''': Is there any boon that you might request of Ferelden's king? If it is within my power, I will grant it.
---> '''Warden''': I have no need of anything further.
---> '''[[spoiler:Alistair]]''': Really? Not even a pony? Gosh, way to wreck the drama!

-->'''General:''' The country's in your debt, son. We'll have to repay you for your bravery.
-->'''Shadehawk:''' That won't be necessary. I was simply doing my duty as a protector of this country!
-->'''General:''' Do you actually mean that, or...
-->'''Shadehawk:''' My account number is 1007-[=MOV3=]-2061.