Basic Trope: A villain refuses to kill another character because they intend to use them later or because of his Twisted Necessity.
- Straight: Emperor Charlie stops his minion from shooting Bob because there's important information that only Bob knows.
- Exaggerated:
- Emperor Charlie stops his army from shooting everyone because there's important information only Bob knows.
- Charlie repeatedly saves Bob from certain death, even resurrecting him as Revenant Zombies for as long as he needs him.
- Charlie beguiles Bob with unusual lenience not afforded to anyone else, even ignoring attempts on his life, because he needs him.
- Downplayed:
- Bob is not expendable for the moment and can get away with more than most people, but he still watches his tongue because that won't always be the case, and Emperor Charlie has a long memory.
- Bob is not actually needed at the moment, but is kept alive because he may prove to be useful in the future.
- Justified: Each person is an individual with their own memories and talents, so an entire plan hinging on what one person has is very possible.
- Inverted:
- Bob refuses to kill Charlie because only Charlie knows how to reverse what he's done.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness
- We Have Reserves
- Subverted:
- "No, Minion #48, don't shoot him... I intend to do it myself."
- Emperor Charlie doesn't actually have a true reason: he just likes Bob too much.
- Double Subverted: "But first, tell me what you know. Now."
- Parodied:
- Charlie actively makes sure that Bob is as comfortable as possible.
- Bob faces down Emperor Charlie's entire army and laughs because none of them can hurt him, since only he knows the location of the emperor's favorite chocolate cake.
- Zig Zagged: ???
- Averted: Charlie just shoots him.
- Enforced: "Oh, boy, it looks like Bob's trapped. We have to make sure he can't die, even here."
- Lampshaded: "Don't worry, Alice, he's not going to hurt me. These crazy evil overlords always have something they want from me."
- Invoked: Bob knows Emperor Charlie has a habit of killing subordinates, and so makes himself too valuable to be disposed of.
- Exploited: Bob knows that Charlie needs what he knows, so he threatens to commit suicide if his demands aren't met.
- Defied: Emperor Charlie decides that Bob's loss will not be the end of the world.
- Discussed: "You can't kill me, I'm indispensable."
- Conversed: ???
- Played For Drama: Bob breaks from the realization that Charlie preserves his life, not because of his merit, because of his utility to him, and would discard of him like trash the moment he exhausts his usefulness.
- Played For Horror:
- Just because Emperor Charlie needs Bob alive doesn't mean he cares about his comfort- if Bob perishes, he'll just be resurrected as a zombie in constant agony.
- Since Charlie needs all of his Mooks in good shape, suicide is illegal. Being Driven to Suicide is the highest sin a citizen of The Empire could commit, a selfish escape from one's duties, punished with resurrection, Lobotomy, impoundment of free will, and eternal servitude.
We Can't Kill You, Still Need You, Mook #13666.
