History Main / RefusAlOfTheCall

* ''Comicbook/{{Watchmen}}''. A major character arc for Silk Spectre and Nite Owl. Laurie Jupiter (Spectre) always felt pushed into being a crime-fighting heroine by her mother and is glad for an excuse to give up the role when the [[SuperRegistrationAct Keene Act]] is passed. Dan Dreiburg (Nite Owl) is less happy, but accepts that the days of masked vigilantes are over. Over the course of events however they remember just how ''good'' it was to fight bad guys and rescue people, and by the end have joined up to become a BattleCouple.
* Sunfire was originally part of the famed All-New, All-Different Comicbook/XMen, but quit the team after just one issue. A major part of the later ''Comicbook/UncannyAvengers'' series involves {{Wolverine}} getting Sunfire to join Comicbook/TheAvengers in order to finally live up to his potential.
* During Franchise/{{Superman}} story ''Comicbook/KryptoniteNevermore'', Superman loses most of his power and wants to quit being Superman because he is sick and tired of being alone, being burdened with responsibilities and being judged and derided every time he makes one mistake. However a friend talks him out ot it.

* ''ComicBook/TheAuthority''. In the Jenny Sparks: The Secret History of The Authority mini-series, Jeroen Thornedike's [[RefusalOfTheCall refusal to be the next Doctor]] is why all the past Doctors think he's perfect for the job. It eventually culminates in [[spoiler:Jenny Sparks having to shoot herself in the temple and be revived]] just for him to answer the [[CallToAdventure Call]].

* A humorous example in an old issue of ''Comicbook/{{Thunderstrike}}'': Comicbook/{{Loki}} is up to his usual tricks, and the situation escalates to the point where Thunderstrike, Comicbook/WarMachine, Comicbook/SheHulk, and Comicbook/AntMan (Scott Lang) end up banding together to stop him. The issue was a WholePlotReference to the first issue of ''Comicbook/TheAvengers'', with each of the heroes standing in for one of the original members (War Machine for Comicbook/IronMan, She-Hulk for [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk The Hulk]], Thunderstrike for [[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]], and Scott Lang for the original Ant-Man), and even ended with Ant-Man suggesting that they could stay together and form a new team of heroes. However, they humorously said no and went their separate ways.

** ComicBook/JMSSpiderMan revealed that many of the challenges Spidey has faced are caused because [[spoiler: Ezekiel, the previous ChosenOne and Spider-Man's mentor figure, refused the call out of fear and selfishness. ''He'' was the one who was meant to fight evil and save New York, but because he refused to use his powers for the greater good it fell to Spider-Man. By the time of the comic he's pretty remorseful and decides to aid Spider-Man as best he can.]]

* In both ''Film/{{Braveheart}}'' and ''Film/ThePatriot'' (a.k.a. [[RecycledINSPACE Braveheart recycled IN AMERICA]]) Mel Gibson plays an influential but unambitious farmer who is asked by his countrymen to help in a rebellion against their oppressive king. He refuses to take up arms because he'd rather live a simple life than go to war. Then the king's soldiers kill one his his loved ones and leave him no choice.

* [[Film/StarTrekFirstContact Zefram Cochrane]] doesn't want to be [[OurFounder a statue]].

* ''TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}}''; the Emperor approached Primarch Angron when the latter was just about to commit to a LastStand with his fellow gladiators, telling him he had to leave and join the Great Crusade. Angron told him to shove it and that he was going to die fighting with his friends, but the Emperor wouldn't take no for an answer and essentially kidnapped Angron just as the battle was getting started, abandoning his army to their doom. [[StartOfDarkness Angron would never forgive the Emperor for this]] and would be one of the first Primarchs to join Horus' rebellion against him.

* ''VideoGame/EarthBound'': When Buzz-Buzz is telling Ness of the prophecy and what he must do, Pokey thinks he's not one of the three boys and backs out from helping. [[spoiler:He ends up being involved anyways, but on the wrong side]].

* In ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}: Giga Zombie no Gyakushū'', Doraemon comes to the {{Player Character}}'s home to ask them to help him rescue his crew and defeat the BigBad. The player is free to tell him "no", and [[WhatTheHellPlayer though he'll plead with you]], repeating it enough times will lead to Doraemon [[YouBastard walking off crying]], [[NonStandardGameOver ending the game]].

* In ''Videogame/DragonsDogma'', Barroch is an Arisen who chose not to face the Dragon after his heart was taken, deciding that since he's now effectively immortal he'd rather spend his time adventuring on his own terms.

* WebAnimation/TheMostEpicStoryEverToldInAllOfHumanHistory: During “The Most Epic Superhero Origin Story Ever”, Epic-Man declares his intent to save the world with the help of Epic Fail and Epic Robot Guy. Epic Robot Guy’s response is to run away.

* In ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', when first approached by his mentor and father figure Marcus Aurelius with the task of taking power and saving Rome, Maximus initially refuses. However, by the end of the conversation, he says that he needs to think about it. Somewhat similarly to two previous examples (''Braveheart'' and ''The Patriot''), it is in large part because he wants to return home to live a simple and peaceful life as a farmer and family man. Though he also implies to Marcus that he doubts his capabilities to carry out the task. Later on after much thought however, as well as a meaningful exchange with his servant Cicero concerning how, "Sometimes I do what I want to do. But the rest of time, I do what I have to", Maximus changes his mind on this decision. However it ultimately comes a little too late, as Commodus discovers what his father has planned before Maximus could accept it and thus before it could be announced to those including the Senators brought into attendance. Leading to Marcus being murdered by him, Maximus ironically enough refusing a "call" from Commodus himself to become his enforcer, and thus leading to Commodus attempting to have Maximus as well as his family executed.

* An inversion occurs in ''Manga/MagicalGirlLyricalNanohaVivid'' as part of [[CrystalDragonJesus Sank Kaiser Olivie's]] backstory. As the wars between the kingdoms of Ancient Belka escalate to the point that some armies have resorted to chemical and biological warfare, the Sank Kaiser alliance, one of the most powerful factions, decide it will step up and end the wars [[GodzillaThreshold by deploying the Saint's Cradle, which is a battleship capable of razing countries to the ground.]] However, only a person compatible with the battleship can activate it, and despite the number of potential candidates, none were deemed worthy[[note]]whoever is compatible with the Cradle is immediately crowned Saint King[[/note]]. Olivie was technically the last in line for this and did not need to participate in the selection, but she felt that she may have a chance to end the war, so she decided to return to her home country[[note]]she was exiled to a rival nation for political purposes[[/note]] and offer herself as a candidate. However, her closest friends and retainers ''did not'' want her to go back and thus did their best to dissuade her. Their pleas fell on deaf ears as Olivie went back anyway, and was found to be compatible with the Cradle. After her coronation, Prince Claus Ingvalt of Shutra[[note]]the country where Olivie was exiled[[/note]], attempted one final time to keep Olivie from going to the Cradle by fighting her in a duel. However, [[WorldsStrongestMan Olivie]] proved to be a better warrior and went on to become the master of the Cradle, eventually ending the Belkan Wars.

** Li Nalas, a Bajoran [[LaResistance resistance fighter]], spent most of the Occupation having to put up with an inflated reputation as a brilliant leader, all because he happened to stumble across and shoot an infamous Cardassian war criminal bathing in his skivvies. When he is rescued from a Cardassian prison camp in [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E01TheHomecoming "The Homecoming"]] and finds that everyone is looking to him to fix all of Bajor's problems, he tries (and fails) to stowaway on a freighter bound for the Gamma Quadrant.

** In ''Series/PowerRangersSPD'' and ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'', the eventual Red Rangers initially don't think too highly of risking their lives to defend their personal CityOfAdventure from the forces of evil. In both cases, ItsPersonal thanks to their potential teammates/best friends for years past [[TheCallKnowsWhereYouLive getting the crap beat out of them]], which assumedly wouldn't have happened had the Red Ranger been there from the start. Note that this situation is often used as an excuse to give the lead his own dramatic solo TransformationSequence, as opposed to the combined group one they collectively receive from that point on.

* ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine''

** Li Nalas, a Bajoran [[LaResistance resistance fighter]], spent most of the Occupation having to put up with an inflated reputation as a brilliant leader, all because he happened to stumble across and shoot an infamous Cardassian war criminal bathing in his skivvies. When he is rescued from a Cardassian prison camp in [[Recap/StarTrekDeepSpaceNineS02E01TheHomecoming "The Homecoming"]] and finds that everyone is looking to him to fix all of Bajor's problems, he tries (and fails) to stowaway on a freighter for the Gamma Quadrant.

* On ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' Sisko continuously tries to [[StopWorshippingMe convince the Bajorans]] that he isn't the Emissary. When a Bajoran poet claims to be the Emissary, Sisko is more than happy to step aside, until he sees what a disaster the new Emissary is.

* After Shirogane was reelected as StudentCouncilPresident in ''Manga/KaguyaSamaLoveIsWar'', he offered the positions of Auditor and General Affairs Officer to Miko and Osaragi (the positions having previously been filled by two unseen third-years). Miko accepted, but Osaragi stated she had no intererest in actually being on the council, so the position of General Affairs Officer has remained unfilled ever since.

* In Disney's ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDame'', Quasimodo's prominent call to action for direct participation in the over-arching conflict and official picking a side, similarly to Simba's, comes further in to the story when Phoebus asks him to help reach the Court of Miracles in order to warn them of an impending attack that Frollo claimed to have prepared. However, afraid of incurring the wrath of his "master" Frollo as well as having thoughts like, "What am I supposed to do? Go out there and rescue the girl from the jaws of death and the whole town will cheer like I'm some kind of a hero? She already has her knight in shining armor and it's not me," he initially refuses. But because of the weight of his conscience and encouraging from the gargoyles he relents on this decision.

** Neo ''literally receives a cell phone call to adventure'' at work from [[TheChooserOfTheOne Morpheus]].
** Neo refuses the call by dropping it, figuratively and literally. He wimps out in escaping the agents hunting for him, refusing to go out on a scaffold, while dropping Morpheus' phone several stories below.

* In ''Film/{{Troy}}'', Achilles resents King Agamemnon from the get-go, thus his friend Odysseus is sent to persuade him in leading the Myrmidions to join the rest of the Greeks into going to war with the Trojans. Playing up things like loyalty, honor, and his pride in order to try and convince him. Achilles refuses however, though subsequently changes his mind after a talk with his mother Thetis who asserts that the Trojan War is his ticket to glory and immortality, though also his doom.

** After the Infinity War, Peter doesn't think he's cut for the "saving the world" kind of super-heroing, and is now content to be the Friendly Neighborhood Spider-man. He's now very reluctant to step in [[spoiler:Iron-man]]'s shoes.

* Josuke in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' was [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter much more relaxed and down-to-earth than]] [[LegacyCharacter his predecessors]], and after meeting Jotaro he decides that he doesn't want to get involved with the Joestar family drama or the hunt for [[StarterVillain Angelo]]. Then [[BerserkButton Angelo insulted his hair]] and the rest is history. It happens again in the second half of the story when they get word that a serial killer might be in town. Josuke, fairly reasonably from a realistic perspective, feels that a mundane serial killer is a police problem, not his. Then the serial killer [[spoiler:kills one of his friends (and turns out to be superpowered after all)]].

* In ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarIV'', when presented with the genesis story of the Algo solar system, some time after Rune has chosen him as Algo's champion, Chaz finds the Great Light to be an extremely hypocritical absent god figure and consciously rejects his "destiny" to fight the Profound Darkness. Once he's calmed down, he asks Rune if blind obedience to the Great Light's intentions would make them any different from the villains who serve the Profound Darkness. He eventually does come around, but chooses to fight to protect the people of Algo who would be harmed if the Profound Darkness wins, rather than just because the Great Light says so.

* In ''VideoGame/DragonAgeOrigins'' it is possible to refuse the call to join the Grey Wardens in each of the 6 possible openings, even though in many of them you need to join the Wardens to save your character's life. It doesn't really change anything though, because Duncan will conscript your character [[ButThouMust regardless of whether you want to go or not]].

* In ''Fanfic/AChildShallLeadThem'', Swoop ''really'' doesn't want to be the next Prime, to the point where ''throws'' the Matrix of Leadership at someone. [[spoiler: He eventually accepts the calling anyway.]]

* All of the major characters in the ''[[Literature/TheWheelOfTime Wheel of Time]]'' series have "refused the call" at least once. Except Moraine, who JumpedAtTheCall.

*** [[PlayerCharacter Joker]] attempts to delete the [[MentalWorld Metaverse]] Navigator app that kicks off the rest of the plot for a good three days before actually using it to willingly enter the AdventureFriendlyWorld of the Palace. He can also try to encourage [[TheLancer Ryuji]] to do the same.

** ''VideoGame/Persona3'': Shinjiro Aragaki was a founding member of [=SEES=], but an undisclosed incident made him decide to quit. Akihiko spends most of the game trying to convince him to come back, and the plot thickening has no bearing on his eventual acceptance. No, he only agrees to return because [[spoiler:Ken Yamada]] joins SEES of his own volition. The significance? The incident that led him to abandon [=SEES=] was [[spoiler:losing control of his Persona and accidentally killing Ken's mother]].

* ''VideoGame/Persona3'': Shinjiro Aragaki was a founding member of [=SEES=], but an undisclosed incident made him decide to quit. Akihiko spends most of the game trying to convince him to come back, and the plot thickening has no bearing on his eventual acceptance. No, he only agrees to return because [[spoiler:Ken Yamada]] joins SEES of his own volition. The significance? The incident that led him to abandon [=SEES=] was [[spoiler:losing control of his Persona and accidentally killing Ken's mother]].
* ''VideoGame/Persona5'': The Protagonist attempts to delete the Otherworld Navigation app that kicks off the rest of the plot for a good three days before actually using it to willingly enter the AdventureFriendlyWorld of the Palace. Depending on the player's choices, he can also encourage one of the other playable characters to do the same.

[[caption-width-right:256:[[WithGreatPowerComesGreatResponsibility And we all]] [[MyGreatestFailure know how]] [[MentorOccupationalHazard this ends.]]]]

* The ''Franchise/PrettyCure'' series is well acquainted with this little trope.

* Nakajima Youko in ''LightNovel/TheTwelveKingdoms'' spends an unusually long portion of the entire first StoryArc of the series refusing the call in various ways.

* Josuke in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' was [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter much more relaxed and down-to-earth than]] [[LegacyCharacter his predecessors]], and after meeting Jotaro he decides that he doesn't want to get involved with the Joestar family drama or the hunt for [[StarterVillain Angelo]]. Then [[BerserkButton Angelo insulted his hair]] and the rest is history. It happens again in the second half of the story when they get word that a serial killer might be in town. Josuke, fairly reasonably from a realistic perspective, feels that a mundane serial killer is a police problem, not his. Then the serial killer [[spoiler:kills one of his friends (and turns out to be superpowered after all)]]. In general, Josuke is the only JoJo who doesn't set out on a quest on his own, but the tendency of villains to make it personal force the issue over and over.

* Josuke in ''Manga/JojosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable'' was [[ContrastingSequelMainCharacter much more relaxed and down-to-earth than]] [[LegacyCharacter his predecessors]], and after meeting Jotaro he decides that he doesn't want to get involved with the Joestar family drama or the hunt for [[StarterVillain Angelo]]. Then [[BerserkButton Angelo insulted his hair]] and the rest is history.