History Main / ComicallySmallDemand

* ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'': In "Die Hippie Die," a group of hippies invades South Park, and the only person capable of dealing with them is [[EnfanteTerrible Cartman]], who's in jail for an earlier stunt. All of the adults in town gather to ask him for help and try bribing him with a cake, but he demands something even more precious: a remote control Tonka dump truck, batteries included. As part of the deal, Cartman says that [[SitcomArchNemesis Kyle]] can never be allowed to have a Tonka truck of his own and has to watch him play with the toy. The adults agree, and, once the day is saved, the episode ends with Cartman happily having fun with his truck and refusing to let Kyle have a turn with it.

* ''Manga/TheWayOfTheHousehusband'': Chapter 58 [[FauxHorrific portrays it]] like a terrifying mob shakedown when the infamous [[RetiredMonster ex-Yakuza]] "Immortal" Tatsu goes door-to-door for Neighborhood Association dues... to the tune of 500¥[[note]](less than $5 US)[[/note]] per household -- literal pocket change.

* Justified in ''Manga/{{Noragami}}''. Five-yen coins are a traditional offering at Shinto shrines, which is why the homeless god Yato only charges five yen (approximately five cents) for his services--the offering is more important than the money itself.

* ''VideoGame/SaintsRowVI'', the ending to the Enter The Dominatrix DLC, [[spoiler: [[MakesAsMuchSenseInContext the Space Raptor enemies of the Zin]] save the Saints from the simulation. Their King, Cirano, offers the Saints a reward for each of them. For Pierce, a dinosaur with guns, for Donnie, to be respected, for Kinzie, vengeance, for Shandi, to be Cirano’s queen, as for the Boss? They don’t want anything and instead asks if he wants to go bowling]]

* ''LightNovel/ReZero'': Some of Subaru's requested rewards for helping save Emilia's life include asking for her name, petting Puck's fur, and working in the mansion.

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10796885/7/Now-You-See-It Now You See It]]'': Hinata thinks Sakura is selling Kiba into slavery for knowledge of some seals. Sakura is actually selling [[NamesTheSame the Kiba swords]], but admits she'd sell her teammate for a half empty jar of umeboshi.

* 'WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'':

Compare MundaneWish, MundaneUtility, ComicallySmallBribe, DisappointedByTheMotive, and SoldHisSoulForADonut. If it involves food, it overlaps with BrattyFoodDemand.

* In ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'', two paparazzos snap some incriminating photos of the titular character with the intent to blackmail him. When they finally make their demands (after several failed attempts to get anyone to care), it is for the [[SarcasmMode outrageous]] sum of... $150 dollars. Each.

* In ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'', Death comes to collect Peter, but sprains his ankle, so Peter is forced to take over Death's job while Lois nurses him back to health. Lois takes the opportunity to ask Death to spare her husband; Death agrees, but says "you've got to do something for me." Lois hesitantly begins unbuttoning her shirt, only for Death to clarify that he only wants her to get him a fruit cup from the kitchen.

* ''Fanfic/DauntlessAlloraGale'': Lelouch agrees to help Schneizel overthrow the Emperor in exchange for Japan.[[note]]Schneizel had both expected and been prepared to offer half the empire.[[/note]]

* In ''TabletopGame/ChangelingTheLost'', one way Changelings replenish their magic is by making [[EquivalentExchange deals]]. The deals themselves can involve any goods/services, mundane or otherwise -- it's the ''act'' itself that's important. This can cause problems with humans unaware of TheMasquerade, who naturally wonder ''why'' that strange unlicensed exterminator will clear all the insects out of their house for just a cheap trinket.
** There's also the fact that when a normal human breaks a fae bargain, the Wyrd will often punish the mortal by causing him to stumble into the Hedge and get caught by the True Fae. No changeling would wish that fate on anyone, so they try to ensure that the bargains they make are extremely easy to keep.

* In ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaTheWindWaker'', the two little girls who [[IllNeverTellYouWhatImTellingYou won't tell you any gossip about the other townspeople]], not even for ''two whole rupees!'' (They're so little that they're pleased to get even one rupee each.)

* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInMexico'': Cheech Marin's character asks Agent Sands for a smaller bribe, $10,000 instead of the $50,000 Sands initially offered. An amused Sands skips the traditional [[BriefcaseFullOfMoney briefcase]] and brings it in a lunchbox. Marin explains that it is a nice amount of money, something they both can live with, and not big enough that Sands would kill him over it. [[spoiler:Sands still kills him, [[{{Jerkass}} because Sands is a dickish]] CIA agent/[[EvilForeigner evil Gringo]].]]

* ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11961369/24/Blood-Man-Luffy Blood Man Luffy]]'': After saving Alabasta from Crocodile, Luffy asks for King Cobra's throne. No, not the kingdom, the ''chair.'' Because "It'd be so cool to have an actual king's throne on my ship!" Cobra's relieved when he hears the full reasoning, since "one ornate seat" is easy enough for him to replace after being given away.

* In ''Literature/LordOfTheRings'', Gollum's idea of being a Dark Lord involves demanding fresh fish, straight from the ocean, for dinner every day... and nothing else. That's comically little comparing to Sauron desiring absolute obedience from everyone, Galadriel desiring everyone to admire her, Saruman wanting to analyze and dissect everything and build machines, Gandalf desiring to force-feed his teachings to everyone, and Boromir wishing for an invincible army.

* In ''VideoGame/DawnOfWar 2: [[ExpansionPack Retribution]]'', Inquisitor Adrastia attempts to hire BloodKnight ork pirate, Kaptain Bluddflagg, to kill a rogue Space Marine leader and anyone else who stands in his way. Bluddflagg asks for her NiceHat as payment. [[SeriousBusiness Negotiations break down]].

* ''Film/{{Sneakers}}'': At the end of the movie, the protagonists realize they can make demand the NSA in return for giving back the "black box," which has the power to reshape global politics. Rather than demand millions of dollars, one member demands a Winnebago RV, another wants an international vacation, and Carl just asks for a cute agent's phone number.

** In ''Literature/TheScienceOfDiscworld'', the Elf Queen tries to bribe Rincewind with his heart's desire. However, due to a previous incident involving Rincewind being stuck on an island for too long, his only real desire is potatoes (having gotten a little, ah, "confused" between them and sex). This baffles and enrages the Queen, and she stomps off, but had she actually provided some potatoes, she might've had Rincewind. He shouts after her he'd be happy with a bag of crisps.

'''Number Two:''' {{Ahem}} -- don't you think we should, maybe, ask for ''more'' than a million dollars?

* ''Series/{{Ghosts}}'': After three days of non-stop trying to scare Alison away, she tells the ghosts she can’t leave and asks them what they want from her. The answers? Tank documentaries, a portrait taken down and to simply say hello. {{Subverted}} with Thomas, who wants Alison to leave her husband, kill herself and spend eternity with him, all of which is soundly rejected.

* In Goofy Wants His Money, Goofy hounds his roommate Damian for his money he lent him back. After months of terrorizing him, Damian asks what he owned Goofy. [[spoiler:It was 3 dollars, 42 cents, five rubber-bands, an old boot and half a bean.]]

* ''Film/OnceUponATimeInMexico'': Cheech Marin's character asks Agent Sands for a smaller bribe, $10,000 instead of the $50,000 Sands initially offered. An amused Sands skips the traditional [[BriefcaseFullOfMoney briefcase]] and brings it in a lunchbox. Marin explains that it is a nice amount of money, something they both can live with, and not big enough that Sands would kill him over it. [[spoiler:Sands still kills him, [[{{Jerkass}} because Sands is a dickish]] [[CIAEvilFBIGood CIA agent]]/[[EvilForeigner evil Gringo]].]]

** By ''Literature/NightWatch'', Vetinari is savvy enough to have spotted the pattern. After a TimeTravel incident in which [[spoiler:Vimes goes back to take the place of his own mentor and participate in an infamous civic uprising]], Vetinari figures out what happened and seems ready to offer Vimes a huge reward. Vimes is furious that he would dishonor the memories of the people who died in this manner, but is taken aback when Vetinari's offer is far more reasonable: Vimes can have the old Watch headquarters restored, and the grave of those who died will never be disturbed.

** By the third time, Vetinari is savvy enough to have spotted the pattern. After a TimeTravel incident in which [[spoiler:Vimes goes back to take the place of his own mentor and participate in an infamous civic uprising]], Vetinari figures out what happened and seems ready to offer Vimes a huge reward. Vimes is furious that he would dishonor the memories of the people who died in this manner, but is taken aback when Vetinari's offer is far more reasonable: Vimes can have the old Watch headquarters restored, and the grave of those who died will never be disturbed.