Times where somebody gets informed that "This is Not a Game" in Fan Works.
Crossovers
- In Harry Potter and the Gaining of Faith
Dumbledore chides Faith for the death of Fenrir Greyback and the interrogation and mutilation of Antonin Dolohov at the hands of her allies.Dumbledore: When I agreed to let you be a part of this, I didn’t imagine you would sink to such depths.
Faith: Wake up, old man. This isn’t a fucking game. This isn’t a damn Quidditch match. We ain’t on the pitch here. This is motherfucking war. - King Explosion Murder The Shield Hero: Unlike canon, Ren quickly comes to realize that the new world he's been pulled into isn't the same as Brave Star Online, especially after seeing what his actions nearly did to Gaelion and Wyndia. This convinces him to start taking things much more seriously than he was before.
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (Killbles): Misty Fly chides Pinkie Pie this way, trying to get her to take Kaiju battles more seriously. Sadly, it doesn't take: when Pinkie gets into an actual battle, she keeps the fight inside Canterlot rather than trying to move it away, not realizing how much damage is being done until afterwards.
- The Night Unfurls: Kyril emphasises the need for "disciplined soldiers and killers, not children playing at war" while addressing the recruits in Chapter 13 of the original.
- In the RWBY/Fate/stay night crossover One Sunny Day, Yang Xiao Long says she became a Huntress just for the thrill of exciting adventures. An irate Archer lectures her that this isn't some fun contest or game, and if she keeps treating her duties like one, people are going to die.
- Sonic Forces: Resistance is Magic:
- Pinkie and Charmy's friends are quick to remind them about this when it looks as though they're losing sight of how serious everything is.
- When Rainbow Dash readily agrees to Knuckles' plan for dealing with Metropolis, Applejack reminds her that they're not playing games here.
- Twilight also says much the same thing to Dash while questioning how she's able to enjoy fighting in a war.
- Super Power Beat Down: Darth Maul angrily uses this line when Spider-Man foolishly cracks a joke even though Maul is currently Force-Choking Mary Jane.
- In Turnabout Storm, Phoenix Wright calls out Trixie on prosecuting the innocent Rainbow Dash as revenge against Twilight Sparkle, saying that this isn't a game, and she shouldn't use an innocent life to get back at Twilight.
- In Where Talent Goes to Die, after Monokuma gives everyone the second motive - information on how to kill another classmate and/or that classmate's dirty secrets - Mitamura acknowledges that everyone has probably looked at the information already. Hoshino, who'd otherwise taken every opportunity to deride Mitamura, is actually somewhat impressed that she realizes that the killing game isn't like "playing elected official" at her old school. In response, Mitamura points out that her work for the student council wasn't a game, either, even if she's aware that the stakes are much higher now.
- What If Videl Was A Z-Fighter?: When they're making their way through Babidi's ship, Gohan is deeply unimpressed with how Goku and Vegeta keep toying with their opponents, even using Rock–Paper–Scissors to decide who fights who. He calls them out in this fashion, reminding them of what's at stake.
- In Fate/Harem Antics, Ayako Mitsuari only learns about the existence of magic and the Holy Grail War due to becoming Assassin/Hassan of Serenity's new Master. Ayako angrily confronts Rin Tohsaka about leaving her Locked Out of the Loop when they have been friends for years. Rin says this isn't a game, and since Ayako can't use magic, getting involved will likely get her killed.
- The Adoption of Ginny:Harry: Alright folks we have a couple hours. Let's go take a break, clear our heads and get ready for this. This is not going to be a game. This is going to be real. We'll need to focus and stay level headed. No matter how much we plan once we cross the threshold we'll be in their zone and will have to make it up on the fly. So stick together, trust yourself, trust each other and be ready for anything.
- Saviour of Magic:Random fourth-year girl: What about the Aurors? Surely they would protect us, right?
Harry: And how long do you think it would take for the Death Eaters to kill you if you are standing right in front of them? It would all be over in a matter of seconds, long before the Ministry could even detect it. The Aurors cannot help you all the time and thanks to Bagnold and Fudge ruining the Auror corps over the years, they are limited in number. Unless you all learn to defend yourselves, you'll end up like the couple of thousand witches and wizards who died in the last war. This is not a game.
- In Not Quite Heroes, Dr. Drakken ends up in a fight with another villain. Shego tries to convince him to cut his losses and quit, pointing out that it's not like fighting Kim Possible — if he loses this fight, he won't go to jail for a while, he'll die.
- For His Own Sake: Kaolla Suu doesn't realize how dangerous and destructive her 'playtimes' can be. After the police take her in for questioning in the wake of the incident at the Kuromitsu Inn, she starts crying at the intensity of their interrogation, protesting that she doesn't like this game they're playing anymore and wants to do something else. The police respond that they're not playing a game, and that she's in very serious trouble.
- This is a point of contention between Ladybug and Chat Noir in Leave for Mendeleiev. While Ladybug takes their duty to protect Paris from Hawkmoth and the akuma seriously, Chat Noir's far more concerned with flirting, joking around, and trying to figure out her Secret Identity despite being repeatedly warned off.
- He also regards her Miraculous Cure as a magical Reset Button: since her powers can repair the damage done by akuma, he figures that his actions don't have any long-term consequences. As Adrien, he encourages Nino to think the same way, much to Marinette's horror.
- Lying on the Job: Ladybug learns about several incidents where Chat Noir betrayed her trust and confronts him. She repeatedly asks him whether he considers their duty to be a game; he dodges the question at first, and ultimately refuses to answer:Ladybug: ...Chat, do you think this is a game?
Chat Noir: W-well, I'm definitely in it to win if that's what you mean—
(Later, after deducing his Secret Identity)
Ladybug: Tell me, Adrien. Tell me that this hasn't been a game to you. Tell me that you wanted to protect Paris all this time. Tell me that this hasn't been all about you.
(Chat Noir remains silent) - In Miraculous! Rewrite, Chat Noir's tendency to joke around and make light of the situation during akuma battles gradually causes friction to build between him and Ladybug. This is only complicated further by how this overlaps with his efforts to flirt with her despite her disinterest. All this comes to a head in the Syren two-parter, as Master Fu takes the Ring after hearing him threatening to quit. Adrien subsequently realizes his mistakes, and proves that he can recognize when things are a Matter of Life and Death, earning another chance.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic
- The Successors: As the sisters are entering the Everfree Forest, Corona tries making a joke to lighten the mood, only for Aurora to snap at her that their mission is nothing to joke about.
- A Case Study in the Sturdiness of the Rookie 9: Chouji tells himself that the Chuunin Exams are not a game; instead, they're a chance for the genin to prove themselves and demonstrate just what they're capable of. He uses this to justify his team deciding to trick and betray Ino's team in order to get the scroll they need to progress, a move that proves to have dire consequences for all concerned.
- In With Strings Attached, when George asks what happens if they can't get a piece of the Vasyn during their quest, Jeft tells them that "this is not a game you can win on good intentions and points. You have victory conditions...." The other Fans think he's just using gamer terminology, but the irony is that that this really is a kind of game that Jeft set up and is actually quite true.
