History Main / HospitalityForHeroes

* While Trevor Philips, one of the player characters in ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'', is [[VillainProtagonist anything but a hero]], he nonetheless gets a free Sniper Rifle and silencer from the local Ammu-Nation in the mission "Nervous Ron"...because he's set fire to the store in the past and the owner doesn't want a repeat. Rather frustratingly, Trevor ''does'' pay for anything else he acquires from the store afterwards, and there's no apparent reason for his outburst of empathy other than the player's inconvenience.

* In ''Film/BadAss,'' Frank gets a free bottle of tequila from a shopkeeper as thanks for beating up two armed robbers.

** This also serves as a major source of culture clash for the time-displaced dragonriders that came forwards to help with Threadfall -- they went from having pretty much anything they wanted just for the asking to the grudging support of a world still getting reacquainted with the necessity of dragons. Quite a few of them can't reconcile their old worldview with the new and get banished to the Southern Continent.

* It's seen on a few occasions in the ''Literature/DragonridersOfPern'' books that dragon riders are given everything they need or even want by the rest of the Pern community, in exchange for risking their lives to protect the people from Threadfall. This makes sense because, since they have to devote their entire lives to caring for their dragons and training to fight Thread, the riders don't have time left over for things like earning a living or raising crops. Most of them are honorable about it, but some of the more belligerent riders are prone to abusing this.
* In ''Film/{{Tombstone}}'', Wyatt Earp is shown preparing for the legendary showdown at the O.K. Corral by pulling out a gun he hasn't used in a long time, possibly ever; it's an exceptionally fine weapon in a custom case, and a small engraved plaque reveals that it was a gift to him from "the grateful citizens" of the town where he had been the peace officer.

* In one episode of ''Franchise/{{Dragnet}}'', Friday and Gannon had just busted a perp before he could go after a restaurant owner. Immediately afterwards, a line of dialogue reveals that the cops haven't had lunch yet. The restaurant owner immediately offers a free lunch; when they refuse, she tells them to sit down and order anyway, because [[LoopholeAbuse there's nothing controlling the size of the portions she serves them]].

* As an aversion, Franchise/SpiderMan complains in ''WebVideo/ImAMarvelAndImADC'' that they're being charged exorbitant prices in a heroes' bar, though this is the response to the lack of HeroInsurance.

* ''Anime/{{Pokemon}}'': Where she gets funding is unknown, but Nurse Joy is able to provide healing for Pokémon free of charge, along with food and lodging for trainers, even those who aren't "heroes". The only time Ash and his entourage were turned away from a Center was when a large event made it too crowded.

* Many awesome customers on Website/NotAlwaysRight receive free meals, drinks, or gift cards from grateful employees for standing up to other rude or violent customers.

* In real life: It's common for soldiers, cops, firefighters, et al. to get free drinks from bartenders. American Airlines lets military traveling on orders use their [[{{Irony}} Admiral's]] Club lounges for free (they still have to pay for meals but they waive the other fees), Air Canada lets traveling military check as many bags as they wish for free (whether traveling on orders or as civilians), and all airports in Canada and the US let military use their Priority Security Clearance lanes for free. Many, ''many'' places will give discounts or outright freebies to said people in uniform or who flash an ID card as well.

* In particular for the Medal of Honor recipients, they may receive, among other benefits, a monthly pension including to what other benefits they might have received [[note]]as of 2011, it is $1,237 a month[[/note]], and free air travel under the provisions of DOD Regulation 4515.13-R. The other privileges and courtesies [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medal_of_Honor#Privileges_and_courtesies listed here.]]

** Vimes spends some time pondering this trope at one point. Vimes is [[TheLastDJ famously incorruptible]] and [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge reacts violently]] to people trying to bribe him, and he also knows that local merchants offering discounts or free goods for watchmen isn't really altruistic; it's an attempt to get the watch on their side. Regardless, Vimes considers it too petty to get worked up about, knows that the free or discounted stuff the watch get from merchants is a perk of the job and that attempting to curtail it would wind up with the watch up in arms. He's even willing to consider that maybe a tiny fraction of the merchants are just sincerely showing their gratitude.

Publicly being TheHero can sometimes be a thankless task. The bad guys know where to find you, your loved ones can get StuffedInTheFridge, and the only solace sometimes is that you passed WhatYouAreInTheDark. On top of that, it's generally just stressful work but fortunately, there's another rare soul who's also good, and does what they can to help.

Contrast NoHeroDiscount, AdamSmithHatesYourGuts and DudeWheresMyReward. Compare HeroInsurance and ProBonoBarter. For actual hospitality, see SacredHospitality.

** Vimes spends some time pondering this trope at one point. Vimes is [[TheLastDJ famously incorruptible]] and [[ExtremeMeleeRevenge reacts violently]] to people trying to bribe him, and he also knows that local merchants offering discounts or free goods for watchmen isn't really altruistic; it's an attempt to get the watch on their side. Regardless, Vimes considers it too petty to get worked up about, knows that the free or discounted stuff the watch get from merchants is a perk of the job, and that attempting to curtail it would wind up with the watch up in arms. He's even willing to consider that maybe a tiny fraction of the merchants are just sincerely showing their gratitude.

* The novelization of the ''Film/DirtyHarry'' movie ''Film/SuddenImpact'' mentions that Harry received his unusual .44 Automag pistol as a gift from a custom gunsmith after he had saved the man's wife... probably by killing those endangering her, knowing Harry. It's suggested that he is often offered free stuff, because the text states that the pistol is the only such gift he ever accepted.

* Literature/{{Serpico}} discovers that this trope has become corrupted over time -- despite receiving a meal allowance, police officers still expect free meals. Serpico notices the free meal is often leftovers or something that isn't selling well, so he starts paying for his meal. This so alarms the cafe owner that he chases Serpico down the street with his money. After some argument, they agree that Serpico will pay cost only, while leaving a large tip for the waitress. He then finds the staff treating him with a lot more appreciation.

* On ''Series/{{Fringe}}'', a bartender in the alternate universe refuses to let Agent Broyles pay for his drink. This is because he recognizes Broyles as one of the law-enforcement officials who helped deal with a major disaster (a gigantic vortex) years before; he tells Broyles that his money is no good there, because the world needs more heroes like him.
* At one point in ''Series/JoanOfArcadia'', Joan's father uncovers a large conspiracy within the municipal government and calls in the FBI. The FBI remove all heads of various municipal agencies - including Joan's father, who is Chief of Police. But the community still knows who the real hero is.

* Inverted and discussed in ''Monster Girl Quest'', when a shop owner claims that all merchants dislike the church because they are expected (or rather forced) to give heroes such huge discounts that they have a hard time making ends meet. On the other hand, one of those examples seen which happens to be absolutely hilarious, is this: Luka, a little boy, defeats Granberia, one of the most powerful monster girls in the world by showing courage and the will to improve (something Granberia honours), then Luka and his companion Alice show up at an inn to spend the night. The daily rate is the ludicrous amount of 4.8 MILLION gold for the two of them but since Luka is a hero, the amount is reduced to... four. The best part here is that the inn keeper makes it crystal clear that she will send the rest of the bill directly back to the church, the same people enforcing the discounts for "heroes" in the first place. It also helps that she saw Luka acting like a real hero, so her opinion of him and Alice is decidedly better than of those who flee at first sight of a monster, like many other "heroes" did when spotting Granberia.

* ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' invokes the trope - and then subverts it. In the first town you visit, the party rescues a pair of dwarven merchants, Bodahn and Sandal Feddic, from being attacked. Because you saved their lives (and inventory), Bodahn insists on accompanying the party from that point onward, setting up their wagon in the party camp. This is good, because it means there's always a convenient merchant and it also gives the party the ability to add runes to weapons. However, Bodahn also insists that he gives you a hefty "hero's discount" on your purchases, and mentions it frequently. ''This is a lie.'' It's easy to overlook, but Bodahn's prices are actually slightly ''higher'' than most of the other merchants in the game!