History OnlySaneMan / FanWorks

* ''Fanfic/BetweenDreamsAndMemories'': Tommy serves as this for Pogtopia. While Techno and Wilbur (having undergone some serious AdaptationalJerkass) are violent and clearly unstable and Dream is actively encouraging their worst impulses, Tommy desperately tries to play damage control by encouraging them to reach out to their allies and trying to convince them to abandon their plan to blow up L'Manberg. As with canon, [[spoiler:it doesn't work]].

** Of [[ComicBook/GreenArrow the]] [[Franchise/TheFlash three]] [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} leads]], Oliver is clearly the most straight-laced when they're off the clock.

** During the {{crossover}} "Calvin's Franchise/{{Batman}} Adventure", the villains play this role to Calvin.

[[AC:''Franchise/{{Supergirl}}'']]

* Played straight in ''Bagenders'' with Legolas (and possibly Sam), Aragorn being somewhat neurotic, Frodo being insane, Gandalf being a {{Dirty Old Man}}, as are Merry and Pippin, Gimli is rarely seen, but has installed anti hobbit defence mechanisms in his room. Of course knowing the crap that Merry, Pippin, and Frodo do that's an example of ProperlyParanoid.

* In ''Fanfic/WonderfulMazinja'', when [[TheCape Taylor]], [[AntiHero Sophia]] and [[BadassNormal Emma]] are together, the latter remains level-headed and rational while their friends are busy bickering and arguing.
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9421918/1/Soldier-of-Zero Soldier of Zero]]'' only one of the nobles who challenge Saito to a duel during a party rescinds it afterwards. While two of them are arguing over who gets to duel Saito first, the third easily admits that he was drunk at the time and was willing to let things go if Saito was.
* ''Fanfic/VigilanteTendency'': [[Manga/Reborn2004 Tsuna]] for the Peaceful Namimori Committee.
* ''Fanfic/TheRWBYLoops'' has Weiss Schnee, who has taken it upon herself to counterbalance her fellow loopers' various quirks and keep them from actually becoming mentally unstable instead of merely odd. She is sometimes, but not always, joined in this effort by Glynda Goodwitch and her own sister; most of the other loopers merely accept the insanity or decide to do their own thing.
* In the ''[[Anime/PokemonTheSeries Pokemon]]'' fic "[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12097559/2/Meanwhile-One-Shot-Collection Meanwhile]]", looking at Ash's Pokemon back in Oak's lab, Buizel is presented as feeling that he is this compared to the rest of Ash's Water Pokemon, as he finds them overly hyper or dramatic where he's calmer and more serious. It reaches a point where he relocates to live with Ash's Grass types, as he finds that Sceptile and Snivy are just more personally easy for him to get along with.
* Haruka Urashima in ''Fanfic/TheBeastThatIAm'' is the only one to realize the status quo seriously has to change. Naru, Koalla, Motoko, and Kitsune are their canon selves, Keitaro is too spineless to think of standing up to anyone despite knowing the consequences, and Shinobu is too tempted to turn back into [[Comicbook/SheHulk Jade]] so she has the power and confidence to do the things she's always dreamed of.
* ''Fanfic/TheDifferenceOneManCanMake'' has some of those when it comes about dealing with the Norfolk.
** When they start crying "White Walkers", Dorne and the North are the only ones amongst the Seven Kingdoms to realize the threat is real and pledge their support for the war.
** Lord Commander Jeor Mormont and First Ranger Benjen Stark have to sue for peace while the Night's Watch is all for destroying the Norfolk, the former because a war against a well-prepared, well-armed host with a competent leader is nothing short of suicide, the latter because he met the leader and saw the guy only wants his people to be left alone. A shame the Black Brothers don't want to listen.
** Stannis Baratheon condemns his royal brother for wanting to conquest an innocent nation only by desire of a break in his dull existence. Jon Arryn also points it would endebt the crown further.
* ''Fanfic/BlackSky'' has Squalo Superbi. Between [[BunnyEarsLawyer the Varia]], [[TooDumbToLive the main Vongola Alliance]] and magical hijinks, this poor shark is also quite the ButtMonkey.
* In [[https://www.pixiv.net/member_illust.php?mode=manga&illust_id=67839371 this]] ''VideoGame/ToukenRanbu'' doujin, among the four characters featured, Mikazuki and Juzumaru are definitely the saner half of the quartet as opposed to [[BetaCouple Ishikirimaru and Nikkari]] and their not hesitating to go lovey-dovey every other chance. However, even Juzumaru exhibits many goofy and clueless actions in the comic, leaving Mikazuki the only truly sane one.
* Sparatus in ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10804452/16/Mass-Effect-Synthesis Mass Effect: Synthesis]]'' proves to be the only Councilor who doesn't get indoctrinated by Sovereign, making him the only one arguing against an irrational war against the relatively unknown human race. Unfortunately for him, his resistance gets him killed. [[spoiler:The spin-off story reveals Sparatus was immune to Sovereign's indoctrination because he was the one Sovereign needed for synthesis]].
* [=TheInvertedShadow=]'s ''[[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHK43TJoVNRJ85mxMLzWT9bDTViWzNHUM Lyrish]]'' series: Compared to her happy-go-lucky roommate and said roommate's loyal robot companion, Bon Bon is a paragon of sanity. Of the three, she's the only one to realize that having ''anything'' to do with the Fazbear's Fright establishment is a terrible idea. [[spoiler:And next to the thoroughly twisted Magic Mare and Painset Shimmercakes, both of whom become tentative allies of the trio by series' end, there's just no comparison.]]
* In ''[[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13198950/12/Crazy-Trouble-With-Love-Part-8 Alliance of Amazons and Izuku]]'', Ryukyu is the only heroine interested in Izuku who calmly explains what's going on rather than try to lie about the situation, monopolize his time, or push him into situations he's uncomfortable with. Notably, while Mirko forces Izuku to keep sparring with her for hours after an already trying day and pulls a ThereIsOnlyOneBed to make him cuddle with her, Ryukyu offers to let him use her own bed while she does paperwork downstairs.
* ''Fanfic/WhiteSheepRWBY'': As in [[WebAnimation/{{RWBY}} canon]], Cinder Fall is a ruthless manipulator willing to do anything for power. However, here she is stuck between Jaune (a half-Grimm abomination who wants to become a KnightInShiningArmor) and his mother Salem (an EvilOverlord and DotingParent who [[IWantGrandkids really wants Cinder to marry Jaune]]). Cinder has little time for her own plans as she has to balance Jaune causing a scene by running around the city in his "Hentacle" form and Salem trying to send an army of Grimm to destroy the city in order to get Jaune back.
* In ''Series/Supergirl2015'' fic ''Fanfic/FutureShock'' this is in story a role given to Susan Vasquez whom Kara dubs 'Adult Supervision', noting that the explosive mix of personalities needs someone who will call them all on their bullshit. Noteably, Susan is not thrilled with this position, especially when everyone starts deferring decisions to her, leading to one of the few times she loses her temper when the nearly 100 year old former interplanetary general wants Susan to act as adult supervision
* In ''Gundam Abridged'' by ''Gutted Wren Studios'', the role is shared by Sayla Mass and Bright Noa. However, both have their crazy moments; Sayla's moments being set off by any mention of her brother, and Bright's moments by any display of utter stupidity (which occurs often with Amuro around).
* Lita in ''WebVideo/SailorMoonAbridged'', sometimes... and 'she' is a JiveTurkey [[{{Crossdresser}} somehow dressing as a Japanese schoolgirl]]. Of course, compared to [[IdiotHero Serena]], [[AxCrazy Raye]] or [[TheDitz Mina]]...
* In ''WebVideo/UltraFastPony'', Scootaloo tries (and often fails) to dissuade the other Cutie Mark Crusaders from completely gratuitous destruction. Whenever the subject of [[FantasticRacism racism]] comes up, Twilight Sparkle is the only voice of reason. And when Twilight Sparkle goes off the deep end herself, Spike tries (and often fails) to talk some sense into her.
* ''WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries'':
** In ''The Other Abridged Movie'', The OnlySaneMan is Gary Stu, who can't understand why people are so obsessed with card games - [[spoiler:until he falls for them at the end of the movie anyway.]]
** Perhaps due to a NearDeathExperience in the previous season ("I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M GOING TO DIE IN A SHOW ABOUT (BLEEP)ING CARD GAMES!"), Duke Devlin becomes more or less the OnlySaneMan in season 3.
** In Marik's Evil Council videos, [[TheDragon Bakura]] considers himself the only member who sees how ridiculous Marik's schemes are, to the point that he finally [[ScrewThisImOuttaHere defects to Dartz' Evil Council]].
* ''FanFic/TheOuroboros'': When the spacefarers return to Earth, Casey contacts his alternate to warn him that they've learned about how they were tricked into leaving, suggesting that they're willing to KillAndReplace in order to reclaim their lives. [[spoiler:It's all a ruse -- or at least, the part where he wants to work with his alternate to stop them is.]]
* ''Fanfic/LessThanZeroKenchi618'' has for VillainProtagonist the apathetic, self-centered and greedy thief-in-training Null. But the other members of the Secret Six are so utterly bonkers he's automatically declared "the responsible one" -- and he's absolutely horrified over it.
* ''Fanfic/BecomingATrueInvader'': Tel is this for the Heboadians, who otherwise easily go along with following [[KnightTemplar Pel]], [[AIIsACrapshoot Dibship]], or [[AxCrazy Zim]], without second thoughts.
* ''Fanfic/PrehistoricParkReimagined'': Alice and Adrian serve as this amongst the rescue team, often having to be the ones relied upon to maintain order between the team's reckless and short attention spanned leader Drew, the emotionally guarded and desperate for approval team animal expert Leon, and Alice's thrill seeking and excitable younger brother Jack. And even Adrian [[NotSoAboveItAll proves occasionally capable of being quite zany himself]].

* Switzerland and Austria in the AlternateHistory ''Fanfic/NineteenEightyThreeDoomsdayStories'' make an effort in ''trying'' to be paragons of sanity in the [[AfterTheEnd post-apocalyptic wasteland]]...except that the former is doing a better job (though more of a JerkWithAHeartOfGold) while the latter is much closer to being a BrokenBird.

* Sora in ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4523596/1/Kingdom_Hearts_The_Short_and_Honest_Version Kingdom Hearts The Short and Honest Version]]'' fanfic and its sequel. To Quote said Character.

* Hitsugaya in ''Fanfic/UninvitedGuests'' is the only one who doesn't operate under InsaneTrollLogic or alcoholic madness. [[spoiler:Well, before he snapped that is.]]
* InspectorLestrade in the ''Fanfic/DeliverUsFromEvilSeries'', whether among [[UsefulNotes/ScotlandYard his own colleagues]] or Literature/SherlockHolmes [[FiveManBand and his friends]].
* In the ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}'' fanfic ''Fanfic/FrozenWight'', [[AnIcePerson Elsa]] feels this way after listening to advisors who would like her to use her ice powers in ways that make money, like selling said ice directly to the public without the middleman (which Elsa refuses because that would put Kristoff and his ice harvesting crew out of business), opening more ice rinks, or creating more of the fabric she uses in her sky-blue ice dress, and other things. But Elsa gets really pissed off when her advisors suggest she create sentient snowmen to overthrow other countries.
* In the parody fic ''Fanfic/XtremlyScray'' this role is at one point filled by ''[[BigBad Voldemort.]]''
* ''Fanfic/TheUltimateEvil'': Valerie Payne is a young university student who's hired as an assistant at [[WesternAnimation/JackieChanAdventures Uncle's Rare Finds]] and becomes involved in the Chans' adventures. As she tries to balance her new of life of magic and danger with her university studies, she's exasperated by her [[QuirkyHousehold extended family]] at times. She even wonders if they'll turn her grey before she reaches her thirties.

* In ''Fanfic/NoGraveCanHoldMyBodyDown'', [[VideoGame/LifeIsStrange Chloe]] is the only person who thinks that ''maybe'' the [[ApocalypseMaiden goddess]] causing visions of death and destruction is bad news. A few cultists fear the goddess...but not enough to actually stop worshiping her.

* Actually, the only sane ''men'' in ''Fanfic/TheKeysStandAlone: The Soft World'' are the four, who seem to be the only ones on C'hou who notice the sheer insanity of how the world works; for example, they explore the monster-filled Gothmarik Citadel and ask reasonable questions, like “Why don't the monsters eat each other? What do they live on? Why did they design the place so crazily? Why are treasure chests just lying around?” When they do manage to ask these questions of others, they get answers like [[AWizardDidIt “it's magical” or “we're under a curse.”]] The answers are acceptable to the four because they really have no basis for questioning the entire structure of the world.
** [[spoiler: Not until later, anyway.]]
** [[spoiler: Later, it turns out there are plenty of other sane people; it's just that they have a reason for pretending not to notice the insanity.]]

* Reimu in ''Fanfic/{{FREAKINGENSOKYO}}'', to most of the main cast. Considering [[DenserAndWackier what she]] [[ZanyScheme has to]] [[UngratefulBastard deal with]], it's amazing she can keep it up.

* ''Fanfic/ToHellAndBackArrowverse'':
** Of [[ComicBook/GreenArrow the]] [[Franchise/TheFlash three]] [[ComicBook/{{Supergirl}} leads]], Oliver is clearly the most straight-laced when they're off the clock.
** Caitlin Snow is this for S.T.A.R. Labs when Barry joins.

* Tails suffers for being the only non-airhead in ''WebVideo/SonicTheOtherMovie''.

* As per canon, in ''Fanfic/ChildOfTheStorm,'' [=McGonagall=] is often noted as feeling like this amongst the Hogwarts staff. Given that her boss is [[ObfuscatingInsanity Albus]] [[{{Cloudcuckoolander}} Dumbledore]] and her comrades include [[{{Manchild}} Snape]], and in the sequel, [[spoiler: GreatGazoo Doctor Strange]], while Harry - whose canonical DoomMagnet tendencies have been taken up to eleven - is one of her students, this is pretty justified.
** Pepper and Bruce take turns playing this role to the Avengers (since Steve has issues all of his own, especially after finding out [[spoiler: that he and Peggy had a daughter, an event which has resulted in two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren (four living) thus far, from one of said great-grandchildren. Now remember that in terms of life experience, he's ''not even thirty'']]. Given that almost all of them are mischievous {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s to a greater or lesser extent, and their associates (mainly Sirius Black, Darcy Lewis, and the Warriors Three) are as bad, if not worse, this is entirely necessary.
* ''Fanfic/TheBoltChronicles'': Mittens (relative to Bolt and Rhino) serves as the straight man when they function as a typical ComicTrio. In most cases, she grows sufficiently angry and becomes NotSoAboveItAll, participating equally in the dog and hamster's bad behavior.
** In “The Cakes,” Mittens initially tries to keep Bolt and Rhino from eating the title pastries until she is pushed into one of them and gets covered in frosting. She responds to [[BrattyFoodDemand Bolt’s continued angry insistence for cake]] by [[PieInTheFace dropping one on his head]], initiating an all-out [[{{Foodfight}} food fight]] with the dog.
** In "The Ski Trip," Mittens repeatedly tries and fails to stop Bolt and Rhino from hopping a chair lift, snitching a pair of skis, and slaloming down a mountain trail. When the three pets end up crashed into a snowbank, the cat starts a SnowballFight out of exasperated anger.

** In “The Cakes,” Mittens initially tries to keep Bolt and Rhino from eating the title pastries until she is pushed into one of them and gets covered in frosting. She responds to [[BrattyFoodDemand Bolt’s continued angry insistence for cake]] by dropping one on his head, initiating an all-out [[{{Foodfight}} food fight]] with the dog.

[[AC:''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog'']]

** In “The Cakes,” Mittens initially tries to keep Bolt and Rhino from eating the title pastries until she is pushed into one of them and gets covered in frosting. She responds to Bolt’s continued angry insistence for cake by dropping one on his head, initiating an all-out [[{{Foodfight}} food fight]] with the dog.

* Even though [[LightNovel/HaruhiSuzumiya Kyon]] and [[Manga/NegimaMagisterNegiMagi Chisame]] have had their backstories revised when they're brought into ''Fanfic/TheEmiyaClan'', they retain their personalities perfectly. Everyone else in the Clan is insane, weird, perverted, or otherwise, while these two struggle but usually succeed to keep their sanity amidst a household where random explosions, {{Eldritch Abomination}}s, and harem antics are considered normal.

* ''Pinkie Pie'' of all ponies, in ''Fanfic/{{Asylum}}'' is the only one of Twilight's friends who is more or less like her cannon counter part and much more stable than her other friends in the asylum[[note]] Even if she still has her own emotional issues[[/note]], but unlike her friends outside of the asylum, she is still willing to listen to her.