History Main / NotWhatISignedOnFor

Compare DragonWithAnAgenda, NotInThisForYourRevolution, MistreatmentInducedBetrayal and RightHandVersusLeftHand. May lead to an EnemyCivilWar. EvenEvilHasStandards can be a cause. May overlap with NotInMyContract if specific agreements are [[BotheringByTheBook invoked]] [[ExactWords in detail]] to justify breaking off the agreement.

* During the ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'', [[Characters/MarvelComicsPeterParker Spider-Man]] is initially in favor of the [[SuperRegistrationAct Superhuman Registration Act]], going so far as to reveal his SecretIdentity on national television. However, when he discovers that ComicBook/IronMan's pro-registration faction is imprisoning the non-registered supers they capture in a [[PrisonDimension specially-made prison in the Negative Zone]] without even a trial, he promptly [[DefectorFromDecadence defects to]] [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]]'s side in disgust.

* In the ''ComicBook/{{Superman}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton'', Jacobs, a mercenary hired by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Simon]] [[MadScientist Tycho]], had no qualms about working for his shady boss until Tycho captured Characters/{{Supergirl|TheCharacter}} and expressed openly and casually his intention to dissect her. Deciding he was ''not'' hired to help torture innocent girls, Jacobs frees Supergirl from her containment pod, [[spoiler:and gets gunned down by his own boss straight after]].

* In ''ComicBook/TrinityWar'', most of the JLA does not want to fight the Justice League, no matter what Batman says, and think they should be supporting them.
* In ''Franchise/XMen'' ''ComicBook/AgeOfApocalypse'', Sabretooth is an X-Man. In his backstory, he revolted when he learned that Apocalypse hired him for a much more lethal plan than he had realized, and he regards this as [[TheAtoner atonement]].

* During the ''ComicBook/{{Civil War|2006}}'', [[Characters/SpiderManPeterParker Spider-Man]] is initially in favor of the [[SuperRegistrationAct Superhuman Registration Act]], going so far as to reveal his SecretIdentity on national television. However, when he discovers that ComicBook/IronMan's pro-registration faction is imprisoning the non-registered supers they capture in a [[PrisonDimension specially-made prison in the Negative Zone]] without even a trial, he promptly [[DefectorFromDecadence defects to]] [[Characters/MarvelComicsSteveRogers Captain America]]'s side in disgust.

* During the ''ComicBook/CivilWar'', Franchise/SpiderMan is initially in favor of the [[SuperRegistrationAct Superhuman Registration Act]], going so far as to reveal his SecretIdentity on national television. However, when he discovers that ComicBook/IronMan's pro-registration faction is imprisoning the non-registered supers they capture in a [[PrisonDimension specially-made prison in the Negative Zone]] without even a trial, he promptly [[DefectorFromDecadence defects to]] ComicBook/CaptainAmerica's side in disgust.

* In the ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton'', Jacobs, a mercenary hired by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Simon]] [[MadScientist Tycho]], had no qualms about working for his shady boss until Tycho captured ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and expressed openly and casually his intention to dissect her. Deciding he was ''not'' hired to help torture innocent girls, Jacobs frees Supergirl from her containment pod, [[spoiler:and gets gunned down by his own boss straight after]].

* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'''s [[{{Webisode}} Vengeance Chronicles]] [[ActionGirl Andrea Rojas]] teams with [[MindManipulation Molly Griggs]] and [[ShockAndAwe Nick Yang]]. She realized that their plan to stop Level 33.1 was to have Molly send ComicBook/{{Lex|Luthor}} a [[PsychicAssistedSuicide hypnotic message to kill himself]] rather than expose the project. Since Lex is protected by JokerImmunity, she invokes the trope.

** In Volume 8, Emerald, Mercury, and Hazel are horrified when they discover what [[BigBad Salem's]] true endgame is. [[spoiler:They believed that she planned to simply TakeOverTheWorld, and are taken aback to discover from Ozpin that she actually plans [[SuicidalCosmicTemperTantrum to destroy Remnant outright]]; Emerald and Mercury are further horrified by the realization that [[AxCrazy Tyrian]] has known all along and [[OmnicidalManiac actively supports it]]]].

* In ''Franchise/{{Superman}}'' storyline ''ComicBook/LastDaughterOfKrypton'', Jacobs, a mercenary hired by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Simon]] [[MadScientist Tycho]], had no qualms about working for his shady boss until Tycho captured ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} and expressed openly and casually his intention to dissect her. Deciding he was ''not'' hired to help torture innocent girls, Jacobs frees Supergirl from her containment pod, [[spoiler:and gets gunned down by his own boss straight after]].

* In the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Literature/{{Hogfather}}'', Mr. Teatime hires several {{Mooks}} to help him kill the Hogfather (Discworld's version of Santa Claus). It's not until near the end of the book that Teatime reveals that this is what all their elaborate plans were for. One of the {{Mooks}}, despite being a thug and murderer, does not take kindly to the idea of eliminating their universe's version of Christmas and turns on Mr. Teatime. Even before that, there was grumbling:

Maybe someone lied to them (see NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist for one such case), or maybe they just never discussed the plan in enough detail to know their allies' true goals. Then again, they may have started with the same general goal and one (or more) of the teammates has [[JumpingOffTheSlipperySlope slipped]] in their ethical standards and is willing to [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans cross any lines]] to achieve it. In any case, it's only when their long, elaborate plan is nearing completion that they finally discover what they've been working toward all this time (and how they mean to finally get it). Their reaction is inevitably, "Whoa, I didn't sign on for ''that!''" Can result in ScrewThisImOuttaHere

* ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'': In the "Mobius: 30 Years Later" storyline, the [[SecretPolice Dark Presence]] frees [[KnightTemplar King Shadow]] in order to restore him to the throne. When they find out that Shadow actually plans to release [[EldritchAbomination Tikhaos]] to KillEmAll, they flee, even quoting the trope name word-for-word.

* ''ComicBook/Robin1993s'': A teleporting supervillain named Dodge put together a team of fellow bad guys to [[MinorInjuryOverreaction avenge himself on Robin]]. He was doing well right up until he found The Cheater electrocuting Robin, at which point it was revealed that while (almost) all his minions were in it for murder, the leader himself was way out of his depth -- he just wanted to humiliate his enemy. [[ResignationsNotAccepted Then they decided that a teleporter was far too useful to allow to quit.]]

* ''ComicBook/RobinSeries'': A teleporting supervillain named Dodge put together a team of fellow bad guys to [[MinorInjuryOverreaction avenge himself on Robin]]. He was doing well right up until he found The Cheater electrocuting Robin, at which point it was revealed that while (almost) all his minions were in it for murder, the leader himself was way out of his depth -- he just wanted to humiliate his enemy. [[ResignationsNotAccepted Then they decided that a teleporter was far too useful to allow to quit.]]

[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
* ''Manga/{{Ajin}}'': The members of the [[LaResistance Ajin resistance]] had no problem with killing humans for Sato, believing it was necessary for the plight of the Ajins. When they discover that [[spoiler:Sato [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist doesn't actually care about their species' plight]] and just wants to [[WarForFunAndProfit start a war with humanity]] [[ForTheEvulz for kicks]], all but Tanaka promptly abandon him in disgust.]]
* ''Manga/AttackOnTitan'':
** Jean, Connie and Sasha all blanch at the thought that they may be ordered to kill other humans. Jean becomes the vocal opposition to this change in tactics, stating that he joined the Survey Corps to fight Titans, ''not'' other humans. [[spoiler: When his hesitance to pull the trigger on an enemy nearly costs him his life, he is forced to accept the necessity of killing.]]
** Half the Survey Corps goes rogue on the spot when [[spoiler:Eren declares war on the world with a Titan army]].
* In ''Manga/DragonBall'', Adjutant Black, the right hand man of Commander Red of the Red Ribbon Army, believed that his commander was after the wish-granting Dragon Balls in order to TakeOverTheWorld. However, when he learns that Red actually intended to use the Dragon Balls to [[TheNapoleon make himself taller]], and that he was perfectly willing to sacrifice his entire army for such an idiotic wish, Black promptly [[BoomHeadshot blows his brains out]].
* Fred and Louis of ''Manga/MoriartyThePatriot'' absolutely did not agree to let William commit suicide, no matter how much William might want to.
* ''Manga/OnePiece'':
** A comedic example: Trafalgar Law allied the Heart Pirates with the Straw Hat Pirates in hopes of getting a powerful ally to take down the operation at Punk Hazard and eventually one of the Yonko. He did. What he did not sign on for was the Straw Hats' various... quirks, not the least of which is the fact that Luffy's stubbornness quickly leads to Law being dragged into things that had nothing to do with his original plan. Usopp lampshades it in pretty short order.
--->'''Usopp:''' Jeez, I knew [[LampshadeHanging you had no idea what was going on.]] The "alliance" you asked to form only means that we're working together solely to reach a shared objective, right?\\
'''Law:''' Naturally.\\
'''Usopp:''' That's what ''you'' meant, but when Luffy hears the word "alliance" he thinks of something else.\\
'''Luffy:''' Like friends, right?
** On a more serious note, he also quit working for [[spoiler:Caesar Clown]] on the spot after he found out about how [[spoiler:Clown was drugging the children of Punk Hazard with a highly addictive stimulant that dramatically reduced their lifespan in order to keep them from trying to rebel or leave]]. His reaction was more or less along the lines of "If I had known about this beforehand, I never would have had anything to do with you in the first place," and it served as a perfect example of just how far beyond the pale [[spoiler:Clown]] had gone.
* ''Anime/SDGundamForce'': For most of the series, the stated goal of the Dark Axis is to conquer the universe by invading and stealing technology from every dimension. In episode "Gerbera's Invitation", Professor Gerbera reveals that once the Dark Axis General has been fully restored, they will destroy all worlds. Kibaomaru, who joined the Dark Axis with the intent of getting their help conquering Ark, is quick to point out that contradiction in what Gerbera said now compared to what he said then.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Fan Works]]
* ''Fanfic/ACrownOfStars'': Discussed. [[GodEmperor Daniel]] appeared in Shinji and Asuka's tent and offered helping them with their troubles if they went with him to his realm. They took up his offer, but upon arriving Avalon, Asuka believes she is going to be forced to undergo therapy, and she remarks that is not why she agreed to come along. She is reassured that no one will force her to anything.
* ''Fanfic/RosarioVampireBrightestDarkness'':
** Dark was once a member of Fairy Tale, but was LockedOutOfTheLoop about their KillAllHumans agenda. He discovered the truth when he learned that they planned to destroy Yokai Academy for teaching human/monster co-existence, and promptly [[DefectorFromDecadence defected]].
** In Act III, Akua and Kahlua joined up with Fairy Tale and help Kiria in his plan with the intent to make Issa one of the top dark lords once humanity is subjugated. They are completely shocked when they find out that Kiria in fact planned to infect them with Blackheart and have them kill Issa so he would be the only ruler. They spend the entirety of Act IV trying to atone for their mistake.
* ''Fanfic/TheLegendOfSpyroANewDawn'': Drake was once a member of the Ape forces that raided the Dragon Temple on the day of Spyro's hatching. He only smashed one dragon egg that night... and immediately suffered a HeelRealization and fled Gaul's army. Even in the present time, he can't quite forgive himself.
* In the ''Fanfic/PonyPOVSeries'' Wedding Arc [[spoiler:two Changelings named Cricket and Monarch have a HeelRealization after coming to care about ponies and see them as fellow beings instead of cattle. They have this reaction when, by extension, that means their orders to kill Trixie amount to cold blooded murder, something they didn't sign on for. So [[DeathFakedForYou they fake her death]] and aid civilians in making it to shelter in the coming conflict]].
* In ''Fanfic/NeonMetathesisEvangelion'', upon learning of the upcoming nude sync test all of the pilots refuse, stating that their job is to pilot the Evas and kill Angels, not prance around naked for all of command to see. While there's some initial fear of punishment, Kaworu points out they'll be fine so long as they present a united front; NERV can't afford for its pilots to quit.
* ''Fanfic/TheFlashSentryChronicles'': Lightning Blitz, after joining Flash and Iron as the newest defender of Ponyville, is a little frustrated when Flash has him doing tasks like babysitting the Cutie Mark Crusaders and helping with various odd jobs around town instead of helping defend the town from threats. Flash needs to explain to him that keeping the peace means more than just fighting bad guys.
* ''Fanfic/NewTamaran'': Upon learning his allies were helping Darkseid to invade Earth, Red X says it's not what he "signed up for".
* ''Fanfic/CindersAndAshesTheChroniclesOfKamenRiderDante'' has [[Anime/ReCreators Syo and Charon]] leave Altair's team due to her partner, the Great Leader of Re:Shocker, turning people into Kaizo-Majin and having them cause havoc. Syo brings up how it's messed up that this is happening and Charon even says how he's here to save his world, not destroy another world.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
* ''Film/NineteenFortyOne:'' Claude volunteers to become a civil defense air raid spotter due to being told it will only entail sitting in a lawn chair in Ward's yard. Then the army places an AA gun in the yard, and Claude (who is afraid of heights) gets reassigned to a post at the top of a Ferris wheel along with {{Manchild}} Herbie.
* In Creator/JamesCameron's ''Film/{{Avatar}}'', ActionGirl [[PrivateMilitaryContractors mercenary]] pilot Trudi refuses to take part in the destruction of the Na'vi home and ultimately turns against Colonel Quaritch, saying "Screw this. I didn't sign up for this shit!"
* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': Pietro and Wanda Maximoff (a.k.a. Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch) initially become [[BigBad Ultron]]'s CoDragons when he tells them he wants to destroy the Avengers, as it was [[spoiler:a Stark Industries bomb that destroyed their home and killed their parents]]. When they discover that Ultron also plans to cause TheEndOfTheWorldAsWeKnowIt, they promptly pull a HeelFaceTurn.
* In ''Film/BrokenArrow1996'', Mr. Pritchett agreed to help Deakins steal two nuclear warheads--but not detonate one of them. When he protests, Deakins kills him. Similarly, when Deakins sees his plans going up in smoke (literally) and decides to set off the second one -- which would kill him and everyone around him -- Kelly lodges a similar protest.
* In ''Film/TheDarkKnight'', the officer riding shotgun in the prison transport during the car chase shouts "I didn't sign up for this!" when the Joker takes out the police car in front of the transport with a rocket launcher.
* In the beginning of ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'' Cage tells General Brigham that he is a PR person and he did not sign up to go into a warzone and possibly get killed. Considering that Cage is a major in the US Army and there is a massive war going on against an alien threat, this is a ludicrous thing to say to a four star general who is also Cage's superior officer. Brigham is so disgusted by Cage's cowardice that he has him arrested for desertion, busted down to private and sent to a penal unit where he will be in the first wave of the upcoming invasion.
* Many ''Film/JamesBond'' films have a scene where the BigBad meets his fellow villains to discuss their nefarious plans, and one of them realizes the scheme is far more drastic than he had thought ("You want to blow up Silicon Valley?!") He'll pull out, saying that he can't go along with something like that - and will promptly be ThrownFromTheZeppelin so he can't tell anyone else.
* In ''Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome'', Max says this after seeing Blaster's true face and refuses to kill him.
* A variation in the first ''Film/MissionImpossible'' movie: Ethan gives the top-secret N.O.C. list to Luther ''because'' it's not what Luther signed up for, so he knows he won't try to steal it for his own hands.
* In ''Film/OperationDumboDrop'', NVA Lieutenant Quang is ordered to kill the elephant that the Americans are transporting across Vietnam, but ultimately chooses not to.
-->'''Quang:''' I did not join this army to shoot elephants. [[ItMakesSenseInContext Especially ones that fly.]]
* One of Xander Drax's underlings in ''Film/{{The Phantom|1996}}'' is uncomfortable with the idea of obtaining power through occult means. He's ''speared in the back'' for his trouble.
* In ''Film/ThePrincessBride'', Inigo and Fezzik are dismayed to learn Vizzini's plan involves killing Buttercup.
* In ''Film/TheRock'', Ed Harris' character has no intention of actually going through with his threatened chemical attack if his demands aren't met. He finds out at the end that his associates feel differently. More specifically, they felt that there was no going back -- when his bluff is called, he folds but they decide to stay all in.
* In ''Film/TheRocketeer'', gangster Eddie Valentine enthusiastically assists criminal mastermind Neville Sinclair in the latter's attempt to steal the rocket pack... Until he finds out that Sinclair is planning on handing the thing over to the Nazis rather than use it to pull bigger crimes. As Valentine says, "I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American..."
* ''Film/{{Splash}}'': Dr. Kornbluth exposes Madison as a mermaid in public, causing her to be captured by government scientists for examination. When he discovers that said scientists plan to dissect Madison, he is left guilt-ridden and helps Allen break her out, having only wanted to prove he wasn't crazy.
* In ''Film/StarWarsTheEmpireStrikesBack'', Lando Calrissian, though he didn't really have a choice when Darth Vader showed up at his door.
-->'''Darth Vader:''' Calrissian, take the princess and the Wookiee to my ship.\\
'''Lando:''' You said they'd be left here under my supervision.\\
'''Darth Vader:''' [[MovingTheGoalposts I am altering the deal.]] [[MemeticMutation Pray I do not alter it any further.]]
* On a more comedic note, [[DumbMuscle Zangief from]] ''Film/StreetFighter'' bought into Bison's aspirations hook, line, and sinker. It takes Dee-Jay telling him outright that "''We're'' the bad guys!" to get Zangief to pull a HeelFaceTurn.
* In ''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'', Wolverine is ''not'' too enthusiastic about massacring a village full of civilians.
[[/folder]]

* ''Literature/MobyDick'': Starbuck is on the ''Pequod'' to hunt whales for business, not assist his captain in his mad obsession for one specific whale that obviously wants to be left alone. He certainly thinks this, and in some adaptations voices this very phrase. Only his sense of duty keeps him from mutinying.

-->'''Ray Nadeem:''' I did not sign up for this shit!
-->'''Benjamin "Dex" Poindexter:''' ''Yes you did''...

[[folder:Video Games]]
* Played for laughs in [[ForScience Relius']] [[FreakyFridayFlip gag reel]] in ''[[VideoGame/BlazBlueContinuumShift BlazBlue: Continuum Shift EXTEND]]''. [[spoiler:This trope sums up Makoto's reaction to Jin dropping into [=NIISAN=] mode about Ragna -- in ''her'' body, no less!]]
--> '''[[spoiler:Makoto!Ragna]]''': [[spoiler:Huh? Why's my body standing in front of me, talking about killing me? I didn't sign on for this, you guys!]]
* ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry4'': Shows up in the newly {{Heel Face Turn}}ed and [[RedemptionEqualsDeath shortly dead]] [[spoiler:Credo]]'s MotiveRant:
--> "I served [[UtopiaJustifiesTheMeans the dream of a world you spoke of, the Savior you preached of]]... But you [[spoiler:used my sister, Kyrie, who has '''nothing''' to do with this]], and [[ThisIsUnforgivable that is beyond forgiveness.]]"
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'':
** Gaius is recruited as the result of this; he first appears as part of a group of soldiers on an assassination mission. Upon finding out what their real goal is (he had been brought in as a thief), he claims this trope, and can be bribed with candy to join your side.
** Similarly, Tharja, a Plegian Dark Mage, joins the protagonists after admitting that she doesn't really believe in her king Gangrel's cause.
* ''VideoGame/FireEmblemFates'': Asugi, like Gaius, cuts ties with his employer over the terms of his job. He'd been willing to rob the mansion where his Paralogue takes place, but draws the line at killing the owner.
* Neither [[HeroicMime Mike Schmidt]] nor the [[ActionSurvivor previous security guard]] were informed of the homicidal animatronic animals they'd have (no chance) to fend off when they signed up to work ''VideoGame/FiveNightsAtFreddys''.
-->'''Security Guard's Night 1 Message''': Now, concerning your safety: the only real risk to you as the night watchman here, if any, is the fact that these characters... uhh, if they happen to see you after hours probably won't recognize you as a person. They'll-they'll most likely see you as a metal endo-skeleton without its costume on. Now, since that's against the rules at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, they'll probably try ta... forcefully stuff you inside a Freddy Fazbear suit. Umm, now that wouldn't be so bad if the suits themselves weren't filled with crossbeams, wires and animatronic devices, especially around the facial area, so you can imagine how having your head forced inside one of those could cause a bit of discomfort... and death. Uhh... the only parts of you that would likely see the light of day again would be your eyeballs and teeth that would pop out the front of the mask, heh... Yeah, they don't tell you these things when you sign up...
* ''VideoGame/HalfLife'':
** After the Resonance Cascade in ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'', a special forces group of the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks United States]] [[SemperFi Marine Corps]] (the Hazardous Environment Containment Unit) arrives to clean up the situation -- not only by stopping the Xen invasion, but by "silencing" all Black Mesa personnel with lethal force in order to keep knowledge of the incident secret. While some of the soldiers are sociopathic and most carry out their orders without complaint, one Marine in "On a Rail" makes it clear killing civilians is ''not'' what he signed on for.
--->"I didn't sign on for this shit. Monsters sure, but civilians?... Who ordered this operation anyway?"
** There's more Marines in ''VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce'' who are clearly not happy with what they've been ordered to do.
* In reference to [[EasterEgg the]] [[EldritchAbomination crazed]] [[ReactionShot Marines]] in the [[VideoGame/HaloCombatEvolved early]] [[VideoGame/{{Halo3}} games]] [[VideoGame/Halo3ODST of]] ''Franchise/{{Halo}}'', Bungie put in one of these troopers in ''VideoGame/HaloReach'' who had been driven mad by the invading Covenant, gibbering that he had signed on to fight Insurrectionists, not aliens.
* Two of the people in the Paris stage of ''VideoGame/Hitman2016'' are working for Dalia Margolis, the head of an international spy ring called IAGO. Both of them regret it because it went too far:
** Helmut Kruger is a model and actor working for Dalia as a HoneyTrap to romance secrets from women, but he is horrified when Dalia gives him cyanide to potentially (hint: explicitly) murder the woman he's sleeping with.
** Hailey is even more justified than Helmut as she is only working for Dalia because she's TheMole for Victoria St. Clare. Yes, she's a spy but she's a spy for a ''fashion magazine'', and she's rightfully afraid for her life in case Dalia pulls YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness on her. [[spoiler: She will be murdered if you don't sabotage the laptop but if she survives she [[ScrewThisImOutOfHere flees for her life]] with a bodyguard who's been hiding her secret.]]
* Regime![[Franchise/TheFlash Flash]] in ''VideoGame/InjusticeGodsAmongUs'' says this [[spoiler:as he pulls a HeelFaceTurn after Regime!Superman crosses the MoralEventHorizon by killing Regime!Shazam for questioning him]].
-->''This isn't what we signed up for. I let myself believe we were making things better. But we're not.''
* ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'':
** ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsBirthBySleep'': Braig conspires with Master Xehanort to corrupt Terra in exchange for acquiring the means to use a Keyblade... which results in Braig getting a facial scar and [[EyeScream losing his right eye]] to Terra. Afterwards, Braig furiously confronts Xehanort, stating that Xehanort had promised him he wouldn't get hurt and he "didn't sign up to be collateral damage." Xehanort simply draws his Keyblade and threatens him into backing down.
** Early in ''3D'', [[VideoGame/TheWorldEndsWithYou Neku and Shiki]] both make a deal with [[spoiler: Young Xehanort]] to turn Sora and Riku, respectively, over to him in exchange for being able to leave the Reapers' Game and go home. However, both Neku and Shiki turn on him when [[spoiler: Young Xehanort]] actually attacks them, as he apparently promised them beforehand that he wouldn't hurt Sora and Riku.
* This is Elle Cutleaf's reason for helping you against her Blackwold brethren early in the Combe segment of the Race of Man storyline in ''VideoGame/TheLordOfTheRingsOnline''. The Blackwolds were originally petty brigands until their leader Skunkwood made a deal with the forces of Angmar, a greater evil than Elle was willing to have any kind of part of. Among other things, they took several dogs that Elle had supplied them with and bred them with monstrous Wargs, which did not sit well with her at all.
* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'':
*** Kazuhira Miller in worked with Cipher as a neutral business partner and have Big Boss rejoin the organization with the intention of expanding the Militaires Sans Frontieres. After it became apparent that Cipher was perfectly willing to ruin the Militaires Sans Frontieres should Big Boss refuse to rejoin by having one of their agents launch a nuclear weapon from their defense system at the East Coast of the United States and then frame Militaires Sans Frontieres, it is heavily implied that Miller quit working with Cipher.
*** Huey says this, word for word, when he learned that Coldman was going to launch a live nuke from Peace Walker as the final part of its test.
** Otacon in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'' helped build Metal Gear REX without any idea that it was gonna be used for nuclear assaults.
--->''[[Webcomic/{{Hiimdaisy}} Rex launching nuclear missiles? That's not what it was designed for! Nooooooooo.....]]''
** In ''VideoGame/{{Metal Gear Solid 2|SonsOfLiberty}}'', President James Johnson defected from the Patriots to Solidus's Sons of Liberty group and hijack Arsenal Gear. However, whereas he himself wanted to use it as a bargaining chip to be put in the inner circle of the Patriots, Solidus himself desired to use it to actually destroy the Patriots. When Johnson discovered this, he was implied to have refused to cooperate any further, only for it to be too late.
* Late in ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare3'', Yuri explains that [[spoiler:the reason he betrayed Makarov was because he went from a soldier to fanatical lunatic bent on conquering the world for Ultranationalist Russia, willing to use nuclear weapons and massacre civilians to get the insane, mutually-destructive war he wants]].
* In ''VideoGame/SonicChronicles'', Shade [[spoiler:the Echidna]] loyally serves [[BigBad Imperator Ix]] in his efforts to free their clan from the PocketDimension they've been trapped in. When Ix mentions his intention to have them go on to ''conquer'' the outside world, Shade is horrified and promptly jumps ship in favor of the heroes, as she only ever wanted to get out.
* In ''VideoGame/SpyroYearOfTheDragon'', the Sorceress and her apprentice Bianca steal dragon eggs and take them to their Forgotten Worlds. Bianca does it because the magic in their worlds is disappearing without the presence of dragons to maintain it. When she discovers the Sorceress' real reason for wanting the eggs -- [[spoiler:to make an immortality potion from baby dragon wings]] -- she promptly does a HeelFaceTurn and joins Spyro and his friends in trying to stop her.
* ''VideoGame/StarCraftIIWingsOfLiberty'':
** Tychus Findlay protests along these lines when Raynor reveals that they're going to Char to confront Kerrigan. He tries to convince Jim to just take the money and run. [[spoiler:As Gabriel Tosh notes if you still have him there, Tychus is trying to avoid doing something he doesn't want to -- that "something" later revealed to be that Tychus has been tasked with ''killing'' Kerrigan, despite the wishes of his friend. Tychus dies on Char, after attempting to shoot Kerrigan -- a situation which may or may not have been a case of SuicideByCop.]]
** Tychus also protests quite strongly to facing down an army-strength Tal'darim force on the Xel'naga worldship, backed up by "rip-fields" that tear apart anything that approaches them, with a snarl that he "didn't sign up for no ''suicide mission''".
* ''VideoGame/UltimateSpiderMan'': Near the end of the game, ComicBook/SilverSable is hired by [[CorruptCorporateExecutive Bolivar Trask]] to capture Spider-Man. When their fight on a bridge ends up endangering innocent lives, Sable helps Spidey save them. As she explains, she was hired to capture Spider-Man, ''not'' to kill innocent people. Spidey, being himself, takes the time to [[DeadpanSnarker snark at her]] for it.
* In the Ork campaign of ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000: VideoGame/DawnOfWar II: Retribution'', Mister Nailbrain says it if attacked in close combat.
* In ''VideoGame/Wizard101'', when the player is retrieving the pieces of the stone of Mazzaroth, the final piece is held by Vesna Shadowscar. Upon the player arriving she refuses to fight the player and tells the Shadow Weavers that fighting wizards was not part of the bargain. She'd heard of the player before. This may explain why she's one of only human besides the player that is still alive in [[AfterTheEnd Dragonspyre]].
* In the history of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'', Queen Azshara [[DealWithTheDevil allied herself with Sargeras and the Burning Legion]] and worked to bring him to her world of Azeroth for more power and authority. In the end, the Legion's invasion failed, and the destruction caused by the War of the Ancients destroyed her capital city and sent her and those most loyal to her to the bottom of the ocean. In the ''Warbringers: Azshara'' short, she begins to panic and hear voices telling her it's her fault which she [[NeverMyFault frantically denies]] and shows that "This was not the deal [she] made!"
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Western Animation]]
* In the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "Joker's Millions", the Joker hires a replacement for Harley, claiming that it's cheaper than buying the real one out of jail. The one he gets isn't nearly as good as the real one, and she says twice that this "wasn't in the job description" (the second time when she's arrested; still, this was the Joker... [[TooDumbToLive she should have known better]]. Still, [[spoiler:she can take comfort with the fact that [[WomanScorned the real Harley did get revenge on the Joker]] for the insult..]].)
* A mutual version in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' episode where Timmy summons [[TheTrickster the April Fool]]. After the Fool almost sends Timmy's parents plummeting to [[DeadlyPrank a gruesome death as a "prank"]], forcing Timmy to save them, Timmy complains that the "prank" was far crueler than what he'd signed on for; the Fool counters that ''he'' hadn't signed on to have his pranks constrained by "compassion". The deal promptly breaks down.
* The Captain of the Guard allowed the Viking leader Hakon to invade Castle Wyvern in the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' in exchange for what is implied to be allowing Demona and the other Gargoyles to gain control of Castle Wyvern. When Hakon decides after capturing Castle Wyvern to smash the hibernating Gargoyle statues, the Captain of the Guard attempts to stop him, citing that this was not what they agreed to do. Unfortunately, Hakon forces him back and resumes smashing the hibernating Gargoyles, with the Captain of the Guard only being able to watch in horror at what he unwittingly brought about.
* Averted with Fred from ''WesternAnimation/GeorgeOfTheJungle'' in the Super Chicken segments. As he says, [[{{Catchphrase}} "I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."]]
* ''WesternAnimation/JusticeLeagueUnlimited'':
** Gorilla Grodd assembles a new Legion of Doom, but, aside from opposing the Justice League, keeps their long-term goals largely to himself. When it's revealed that his master plan is [[spoiler:to turn everyone on Earth into apes (which is not only ridiculous, but also failed), [[Awesome/JusticeLeague Lex Luthor shoots him in the chest]], takes over the Legion, and redirects their efforts to more sensible endeavors (well, sensible for ''him'', at least)]].
** [[spoiler:Hawkgirl]] willingly signed on to infiltrate Earth and learn the weaknesses and abilities of the planet's society, military strength and its heroes in order to [[spoiler:help the Thanagarians subjugate the planet to build their hyperspace bypass. Once she learns the bypass will destroy the Earth, she defects and helps the League destroy it]].
* ''WesternAnimation/KingOfTheHill'' had a show where Hank met another dad who was appalled with the way the history of the Alamo was being rewritten in the new history books the school had recently purchased. They both agree to put on a play that showed the history of the Alamo, with Hank building the set and the other guy writing. Turns out Hank's vision was of the traditional heroic picture of the battle he remembered from his childhood and the other guy had written a play depicting all the soldiers as drunks and cowards (not because he thought it was more historically accurate, just for the buzz such a "controversial" depiction would get him and his Hollywood dreams).
* ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfKorra'':
** In "The Aftermath" a warehouse worker and secret member of The Equalists meets with Lin, Tenzin, and Korra to give them information about the Equalist's Hideout and weaponry production, explaining that he joined their organization believing they would do something about the Bender discrimination against Non-Benders but didn't sign up for the war they're gearing up for. [[spoiler:It turns out he ''did'' in fact sign up for that, and was luring them into a trap]].
** In the episode "Turning The Tides", Tenzin has to find members of the council in the city, so he tells his ex-girlfriend Lin Beifong to help his wife Pema around the house. Pema comes out with a dirt-covered Meelo and asks Lin to help her give him a bath, and then Meelo says he has to poop. This makes Lin say this exact quote.
** Mako also says something like this in "Rebirth", when Korra rough-houses with him during an Airbending session.
** Played [[PlayedForDrama far more seriously]] in Book Four, when Bolin comes to the realization that Kuvira's army, which he joined in order to aid the Earth Kingdom, has become a force of conquest that imprisons dissenters in camps.
* ''WesternAnimation/TangledTheSeries'': In [[Recap/TangledTheSeriesS3E01RapunzelsReturn "Rapunzel's Return"]], Varian turns on the Saporians when they reveal they intend to destroy Corona.
* In ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', the founding of Springfield and Shelbyville, as well as the feud between the two towns that followed, is based on this trope. Originally the town founders, Jebediah Springfield and Shelbyville Manhattan were allies who led a group of pioneers in pursuit of new lands to settle. Once they found the site for their settlement, however...
-->'''Jebediah:''' People, our search is over. On this site we shall build a new town, where we can worship freely, govern justly and grow vast fields of hemp for making ropes and blankets.\\
'''Shelbyville:''' Yes, and [[KissingCousins marry our cousins]].\\
'''Jebediah:''' I was -- wha... what are you talking about, Shelbyville? Why would we want to marry our cousins?\\
'''Shelbyville:''' Because they're so attractive. I thought that was the whole point of this journey?
* In the first episode of ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama'', Chris gets this reaction from certain campers when they learn that they'll be staying in a cruddy camp instead of the four-star resort they were promised.
-->'''Gwen:''' I did ''not'' sign up for this.\\
'''Chris:''' Actually... ''[holds up contract]'' you did.
[[/folder]]

** In Volume 8, Emerald, Mercury, and Hazel are horrified when they discover what [[BigBad Salem's]] true endgame is. [[spoiler:They believed that she planned to simply TakeOverTheWorld, and are taken aback to discover from Ozpin that she actually plans to destroy Remnant outright; Emerald and Mercury are further horrified by the realization that [[AxCrazy Tyrian]] has known all along and [[OmnicidalManiac actively supports it]]]].

** After the Resonance Cascade in ''VideoGame/HalfLife1'', a special forces group of the [[UsefulNotes/YanksWithTanks United States military]] (the Hazardous Environment Containment Unit) arrives to clean up the situation -- not only by stopping the Xen invasion, but by "silencing" all Black Mesa personnel with lethal force in order to keep knowledge of the incident secret. While some of the soldiers are sociopathic and most carry out their orders without complaint, one Marine in "On a Rail" makes it clear killing civilians is ''not'' what he signed on for.

** There's more soldiers in ''VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce'' who are clearly not happy with what they've been ordered to do.

-->-- '''HECU Marine''', ''VideoGame/HalfLifeOpposingForce''

** In the US Military services at least, this is a legal defense for refusing to obey orders, but not quite desertion. There is a condition, however -- it's only valid if your commanding officer is ordering you to commit a war crime, and you'd better be able to defend your actions during a court martial

** In Volume 8, Emerald, Mercury, and Hazel are horrified when they discover what [[BigBad Salem's]] true endgame is. [[spoiler:They believed that she planned to simply TakeOverTheWorld, and are taken aback to discover from Ozpin that she actually plans to destroy Remnant outright; Emerald and Mercury are further horrified by the realization that [[AxCrazy Tyrian]] has known all along and [[OmnicidalManiac actively supports it]].

* ''WesternAnimation/RapunzelsTangledAdventure'': In [[Recap/TangledTheSeriesS3E01RapunzelsReturn "Rapunzel's Return"]], Varian turns on the Saporians when they reveal they intend to destroy Corona.

* ''WebAnimation/{{RWBY}}'': Five years before the start of the series, Ghira Belladonna, leader of the White Fang, was deposed by a coup, transforming White Fang into a militant organisation under the command of Sienna Khan, willing to use violence to achieve Faunus equality by force where peaceful protest is failing. Although the Belladonna family leaves the organisation, Ghira's daughter Blake remains, supporting the coup's new approach. However, under Adam's command, Blake finds the militancy becoming more violent and indiscriminate until Adam's lack of concern for the safety of innocents on a Dust train he wants to blow up becomes the line she cannot cross. Abandoning Adam and the White Fang, Blake goes on the run and joins Beacon Academy, hoping to achieve her desire for a better, more equal, world in a more honorable way. When Blake and Adam confront each other during the Battle of Beacon, she is horrified to learn that Adam [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist has]] ''[[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist never]]'' [[NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist wanted Faunus equality]]: he wants humanity defeated and broken, their fate to serve the Faunus.

* A mutual version in ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'' episode where Timmy summons [[TheTrickster the April Fool]]. After the Fool almost sends Timmy's parents plummeting to a gruesome death as a "prank", forcing Timmy to save them, Timmy complains that the "prank" was far crueler than what he'd signed on for; the Fool counters that ''he'' hadn't signed on to have his pranks constrained by "compassion". The deal promptly breaks down.