Wendy: But why you? Why are you willing to go up against Roark for someone you barely know? Marv: She was nice to me. Wendy: She was desperate. She needed protection and knew how to keep you around. It didn't work out. You don't owe her anything. She gave me something I didn't know existed. I wasn't never even able to buy a woman, the way I look. A character, sometimes the Butt-Monkey of a given work, is treated for the first time in their lives with genuine kindness and friendship.
As such, they will be exceptionally loyal to their benefactor , even if the benefactor admits that it was all a lie. If the benefactor is a villain, this character could either be their Morality Pet or someone they cared about before the benefactor turned evil.
The nature of this character type is such that their loyalty to their benefactor will extend to generally absurd lengths. Not even the benefactor will be able to persuade them that they had cruel ulterior motives โ this can be problematic if the Butt-Monkey in question ends up turning Ax-Crazy. Can be part of a HeelโFace Turn. Normally one of the defining aspects of the Harem Genre , as with so many girls all vying for one boy, usually the most amount of time the series can devote to explaining why they all like him is that he simply treats them as human beings.
Though this trope is often portrayed sympathetically, it is also what often creates the Stalker with a Crush and the Yandere. It may also be a Samaritan Relationship Starter. A character who follows this may be one that Desperately Craves Affection as well. Will be immune to Twisting the Words. Often is also The Woobie.
Related to It Meant Something to Me. See also Disproportionate Reward. Compare Character Witness and its animal version, Androcles' Lion. May lead to Defusing the Tyke-Bomb. Advertising In this Asian investment ad, a dog becomes a loyal helper for the protagonist after the latter gave him something to eat.
