Not an actual trope-a-day, but something I thought I’d write down after the latest xkcd reminded me of the existence of the book, The Giving Tree. Just in case I forgot it by the time I’m actually tackling Values Dissonance, belike.

Which in our culture may well be – although I note the controversy in interpretation Wikipedia mentions – a heartwarming tale of selflessness and self-sacrifice, but the analogous book in the Imperials’ culture would unambiguously be a horror story of how parasites will suck you dry and kill you if you let them, and/or a morality tale for children on how some gifts should never be accepted, and the necessity for mélith – balance and obligation – as the basis for any kind of ethical relationship.