History Main / ReluctantGift

There might be plenty of reasons for this, from the character having emotional attachment to the item or from simply disliking the other person and loathing the idea of relenting anything to him or her. It can be part of a hostage exchange or other unsavory deal, like blackmail. If what's handled is money and the person is notoriously stingy, the trope is even more likely to happen. The move being rather childish, it is often used to show that a character isn't very mature.

** An involuntary case in ''Series/{{Moon Knight|2022}}'' episode 1, "[[Recap/MoonKnight2022S1E1TheGoldfishProblem The Goldfish Problem]]". Steven is perfectly willing to give the golden scarab to Harrow when asked for it, but Konshu takes control of his hand while doing so, forcing him to close his fist and rendering him unable to open it. When he finally manages to pry the scarab from his own fingers with his other hand, Konshu once again forces his arm away from a decidedly annoyed Harrow.

* ''LightNovel/{{Overlord|2012}}'': Ainz gives Albedo a ring so she can follow him around Nazarick. When he comes across Mare hiding the tomb under big hills, he tells Albedo to give Mare the ring as a reward (one he intends to give every guardian). Albedo, who's been reprogrammed to be in yandere-levels of love with Ainz, has difficulty giving the ring to Mare.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: In ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'', episode 4 "[[Recap/Hawkeye2021Episode4PartnersAmIRight Partners, Am I Right?]]", Wendy Conrad brings Hawkeye his arrows, diverted from the evidence room at the police station. However, when she finds out that he doesn't have his own bag to carry them, she's reluctant to give her own since it's a gift from her wife, with the AffectionateNickname "[[MythologyGag Bombshell]]" written on it. Kate and Clint have to promise her they'd bring back the bag intact before she relents.

* Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse: In ''Series/{{Hawkeye|2021}}'', episode 4 "[[Recap/HawkeyeEpisode4PartnersAmIRight Partners, Am I Right?]]", Wendy Conrad brings Hawkeye his arrows, diverted from the evidence room at the police station. However, when she finds out that he doesn't have his own bag to carry them, she's reluctant to give her own since it's a gift from her wife, with the AffectionateNickname "[[MythologyGag Bombshell]]" written on it. Kate and Clint have to promise her they'd bring back the bag intact before she relents.

* In ''Film/Ghost1990'', after conning the villains' money out of the bank, Sam Wheat's ghost (Creator/PatrickSwayze) convinces Oda Mae Brown (Creator/WhoopiGoldberg) that she can't keep the money and urges her to give the check to a nearby Salvation Army booth. Which Oda Mae does... although still clutching the check for a while and crying as the puzzled nun is pulling on it. Finally, Oda Mae relents, allowing the nun to read the amount... and faint.

* In ''Film/{{Ghost}}'', after conning the villains' money out of the bank, Sam Wheat's ghost (Creator/PatrickSwayze) convinces Oda Mae Brown (Creator/WhoopiGoldberg) that she can't keep the money and urges her to give the check to a nearby Salvation Army booth. Which Oda Mae does... although still clutching the check for a while and crying as the puzzled nun is pulling on it. Finally, Oda Mae relents, allowing the nun to read the amount... and faint.

* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': The episode "Finding [[LampshadeHanging Mary McGuffin]]" revolves around Candace's titular doll being sold at a yard sale and her wanting it back. Dr Doofenschmirtz had been looking for the doll for his daughter Vanessa since she was 7 years old, which gives the doll a lot of sentimental value for her as it proves how much he cares for her. The two fight over the doll until it ends up in the hands of a little girl. Candace decides she's too old for dolls anyway while Vanessa ponders whether she should give up the doll that means so much to her. [[SubvertedTrope She doesn't]], and takes the doll away from the girl.

** "[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/OddSquadS1E7ACaseOfTheSingAlongsMsOUhOh A Case of the Sing-Alongs]]": Is combined with BaitAndSwitch. Otto asks Ms. O politely if he can borrow her remote in order to operate the screen that sits behind her. She is seemingly fine with it and hands it over, but doesn't loosen her grip on it until after she gives Otto a threatening growl, managing to make him stumble backward.

** "[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/OddSquadS2E22HauntSquadSafeHouseInTheWoods Safe House in the Woods]]": Doug snatches Owen and Ozlyn's one-quart container out of their hands, claiming that it's his, and that he needs it for his egg salad. Ozlyn, having had enough of Doug's antics, grabs the jar in an attempt to grab it back, followed by Owen, who also grabs the jar. What follows is a brief tug-of-war between Doug and the agents before Owen ends up yanking the glass downwards, causing it to slip out of Doug's grip, fall, and shatter.
** "[[https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Recap/OddSquadS3E15TheSandwichProjectWaxOnWaxOdd The Sandwich Project]]": Omar shows Opal the cake that he got at the bakery when he was with Oswald, and she scolds him by saying that he needs to focus on the case. Omar tells her that he can focus on both at the same time, causing her to grab on to it and order him to hand it over. He refuses to, and the two partners have a brief tug-of-war with the dessert before Omar accidentally loosens his grip on it and it lands square on Opal's face, causing her suit and her face, as well as her hands, to become covered in cake. Seeing his partner upset, Omar realizes what he's done and feels regret over his actions, throwing his helmet with the camera on it in a nearby trashcan and refusing to film any longer.

* In ''Literature/DragonBones'', Oreg gives a ring to Ward, that he prior to handing it over held in his fist, with his knuckles white, implying that it was hard for him to part with it. Not surprising, as the ring gives Ward ownership, and absolute power over Oreg, who is [[MadeASlave magically compelled]] [[AFateWorseThanDeath to do anything]] his owner tells him to. He has no choice, as the ring must go from Ward's father to Ward, Oreg can't keep it. Ward doesn't learn about all the implications until later.

* On ''Series/{{Noob}}'', Omega Zell ends up having to hand his tournament victory money to Gaea because Justice has nothing else to pay for her services. And he has to do it with a smile on his face per Gaea's request.

* In ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'', Greg is donating a twenty-dollar bill to the church basket despite his reluctance to do so. His mom Susan donates it for him.

* ''WesternAnimation/ABoyNamedCharlieBrown'': As Charlie Brown heads off to the national spelling bee competition, Linus gives him his SecurityBlanket for good luck. He looks away with a pained expression on his face as he presents it, and in fact fails to notice when Charlie takes the blanket and enters the bus, so Linus remains holding up nothing and saying "Here!" as the bus drives away. Eventually the absence of his blanket gets to him and he goes to New York to get it back.

---> '''Timothy:''' I've already got one like this, only my one is bigger.
---> '''Jeremy James:''' (hope dawning) Don't you want it, then?
---> '''Timothy:''' I'll take it, I don't mind having two. (Jeremy James's hope fades)

--> '''Mr Mann:''' (As an afterthought, as he is leaving) I can't help thinking that that horse looks disillusioned rather than disappointed.
--> '''Roy:''' Get out of my shop or I will strangle you.

** On Jeremy James's birthday, Timothy gives him a flashlight which is also a compass, a magnifying glass, a ruler, and many other things. Timothy is extremely reluctant to part with it, saying it is for him. He finally surrenders it when Jeremy James points out his name on the label. Later, Timothy steals it back when nobody is looking. When he realises it is missing, Jeremy James's mum makes all the children line up in front of the sideboard, close their eyes, and wish very hard that the flashlight comes back, which it does. Jeremy James is well aware that his mum tricked him, but keeps quiet, having been threatened with losing all his presents.

There might be plenty of reasons for this from the character having emotional attachment to the item or from the character simply disliking the other person and loathing the idea of relenting anything to him or her. It can be part of a hostage exchange or other unsavory deal, like blackmail. If what's handled is money and the person is notoriously stingy, the trope is even more likely to happen. The move being rather childish, it is often used to show that a character isn't very mature.

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[[folder: Films -- Live-Action]]

* Near the end of ''Film/{{Charade}}'', [[GentlemanThief Adam]] begs off meeting Mr. Cruikshank with Reggie to return the money, saying he can't stand to see that much money go. [[spoiler:He does this because [[IHaveManyNames he's actually Mr. Cruikshank]], and wants to be in the office waiting for her.]]

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A character has to offer a gift or surrender an item, plot-relevant or not, and handle it to another person. The decision is made, there's no turning around possible, but yet... he or she is very reluctant to cede this thing, and still stubbornly cling to it. Frequently, a short tug-of-war follows until the item finally changes hands.

There might be plenty of reasons for this, from the character having emotional attachment to the item, or simply disliking the other person and loathing the idea of relenting anything to him. It can be part of a hostage exchange or other unsavory deal, like blackmail. If what's handled is money and the person is notoriously stingy, the trope is even more likely to happen. The move being rather childish, it is often used to show that a character isn't very mature.

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]

[[folder:Comic Strips]]

[[folder:Films -- Animation]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]

[[folder:Literature]]
* In ''Literature/DiaryOfAWimpyKid'', Greg is donating a twenty dollar bill to the church basket despite his reluctance to do so. His mom Susan donates it for him.

[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
* Sheldon on ''Series/TheBigBangTheory'' wants Howard to accept his apology for inadvertently blabbing to the FBI about Howard mishandling the Mars Rover, so in desperation he gives him that which is most precious to him -- [[ThisIsMyChair his spot on the couch]]. He offers the cushion to Howard, but is reluctant to let it go at first. Howard barely has the seat a minute before Sheldon asks for it back.
* On ''Series/CommonLaw'', Wes Mitchell is usually quite reluctant to lend anything to his partner Travis Marks, since he doesn't trust him to take good care of it (not even a stappler -- Travis already lost five). The short tug-o-war happens once with a pen.

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* Creator/{{Moliere}}'s ''Theatre/TheSchemesOfScapin'': Géronte (a rich merchant) is being conned by Scapin into paying a ransom of 500 gold pieces for his son (in fact, the son needs the money for various living expenses). His paternal love finally shining through after much effort, he gives Scapin the purse... but forgets to let go, and even puts it back in his pocket before Scapin reminds him that he still needs the money.

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[[folder:Western Animation]]

Most extreme cases can lead to a TearApartTugOfWar. Compare GaggingOnYourWords.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheBoxtrolls'': Archibald Snatcher brings Lord Portley-Rind's white hat, that he found in the middle of the street, to his owner. However, since he covets the hat (and the position it entails), he only gives it back after lots of procrastination and a prolonged tug-of-war between him and Lord Portley-Rind.

* In ''Literature/HarryPotterAndTheGobletOfFire'', Filch refuses to give the Tri-wizard egg to Moody because it was "evidence for Peeves' treason". And by the way he is cuddling it, Harry thinks Filch thought the egg was like his firstborn son. But in the end, he does have to give it up.

* Creator/{{Moliere}}'s ''Les Fourberies de Scapin'': Géronte (a rich merchant) is being conned by Scapin into paying a ransom of 500 gold pieces for his son (in fact, the son needs the money for various living expenses). His paternal love finally shining through after much effort, he gives Scapin the purse... but forgets to let go, and even puts it back in his pocket before Scapin reminds him that he still needs the money.

Compare GaggingOnYourWords.