Line #183 FanFic/WhereOnEarthSpies


1	[[quoteright:350:[[http://pentharis.deviantart.com/gallery/?offset=48#/d4c9l59 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/carmen_s_escape_from_waldo_by_pentharis_d4c9l59_fullview.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Yes, Waldo, her fingernails do count as weapons.[[note]]Only that scene didn't actually happen this way.[[/note]]]]
3
4	->"She had such a tiny frame it was hard to believe she could kill a man seven ways without the use of a weapon. Eight if her fingernails didn't count as weapons."
5
6	[[Literature/WheresWally Waldo]], a TallDarkAndHandsome Frenchman [[SpyFiction spy]], works for the World Spy Organization, combatting the dastardly designs of an evil entity called VILE. Carmen, the [[SensualSlavs sultry Russian]] adopted daughter of the original Franchise/CarmenSandiego, is the VILE agent Waldo has sworn to stop. She traverses the world in pursuit of [[MacGuffin artifacts to steal]] and has been eluding Waldo for a while by the time the story begins, their first [[OvertRendezvous meeting face-to-face]].
7
8	''Where on Earth, Spies'' is a FanFic written in WebSerialNovel format by Pentharis, published on Website/DeviantART. It's essentially a MegaCrossover [[AlternateUniverseFic Alternate Universe]] SpyVersusSpy [[SpyFiction Fic]] centered around the [[DatingCatwoman sexually charged antics]] of Carmen and Waldo. Their respective spy teams are comprised of a number of DarkerAndEdgier [[AdvertisingCampaigns iconic advertizing mascots]] including Advertising/ErinEsurance, her partner Erik, the GEICO Gecko (Martin), Progressive's Flo, the Taco Bell Dog (Carlos), and Allstate's Mayhem. All of them are interpreted by the author from their perspectives as spies, but they're kept in some line with their source material to fun effect. Maybe that Waldo wears a fedora.
9
10	It can be read starting [[http://pentharis.deviantart.com/gallery/34268949?offset=24 here]], continuing backwards through that gallery folder.[[note]]Website/DeviantART isn't exactly made for hosting stories.[[/note]]
11
12	----
13	!!This work provides examples of:
14	* AccidentalMisnaming: A small GeniusBonus if you're aware of Wally's name change when he came to the States.
15	%%* ActionGirl: Carmen. Erin as well.
16	* AffectionateGestureToTheHead: Carmen pats Mayhem's head to remind him of his place as her servant.
17	** Flo also pets Mayhem's head.
18	** Martin pets Erin's head in Chapter 30.
19	* AggressiveNegotiations: Waldo tries this when Carmen calls him to China. [[spoiler:It doesn't work.]]
20	* AirVentPassageway: How Carlos leaves the VILE base. He's a small dog, so it works.
21	* TheAlcoholic: [[spoiler: Waldo can be a heavy drinker, though he doesn't let it interfere with work. His failures to capture Carmen exacerbated the problem, as did his attempts to quit smoking.]]
22	* AllJustADream: A light example. In Chapter 21, [[spoiler: Waldo wakes up shirtless in bed and [[DreamingTheTruth realizes he's with Carmen.]] It's not presented as a dream, so it's not just a DreamSequence.]]
23	* AndThisIsFor: Carmen stabs Waldo for strip searching her, but not fatally.
24	* {{Animorphism}}: The Doctor collected spies and swapped their minds with animals
25	* ArsonMurderAndJaywalking: Things amiss in Erin's life include Carmen, a criminal on the loose; [[spoiler: her mentor being confined to a wheelchair]]; and waiting for her hair to grow out so she'll know what shade to die her hair next time.
26	** Carmen listing Waldo's positive attributes: "Determination, inner strength, intelligence, patience, cleverness, and maybe I just like your accent."
27	%%* BadassBookworm: Alik.
28	%%* BadassLongcoat: Carmen, naturally.
29	%%* BadassNormal
30	* BearerOfBadNews: Waldo doesn't want his friends to die. He doesn't want to have to be the one to tell their families.
31	* BecomingTheMask: Flo in her BackStory. She [[TheInfiltration inserted herself in a spy agency]], becoming the character from Progressive's commercials: peppy, perky, and an nice woman with many friends.
32	%%* BeenThereShapedHistory: Carmen I.
33	* BerserkButton: Only Carmen can call Alik "moi krolik."
34	* BetaCouple: Erin and Erik to Waldo and Carmen. The couple making work work. They are on the same side, however.
35	* BettyAndVeronica: Waldo (Veronica) and Alik (Betty) to Carmen. The [[DatingCatwoman suave, intrepid rival spy]] or the [[NerdsAreSexy sometimes timid, closed in coworker]]?
36	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Alik is a nice guy, but he's also a fully trained spy and he doesn't like being messed with by Mayhem.
37	%%* BigBrotherIsWatching: Referenced in Chapter 27.
38	* BigWhat:
39	-->'''Waldo''': A bruise is temporary, but a scar is forever. You know what else is temporary?\
40	'''Carmen''': Pregnancy?\
41	'''Waldo''': ''Quoi?!''
42	* BilingualBonus: Every chapter begins with something said in either French or Russian. Various exclamations are given in these languages throughout the text. The author uses Google for these and has asked for an interpreter. She found one for her Russian characters and the person receives a credit in every postscript.
43	* {{Blackmail}}: In jest, Carmen claims she has a cameraman observing Waldo and her in China that will transfer pictures of them flirting in a park to ACME, because of their DatingCatwoman relationship, to secure the WSO's help in [[spoiler:healing Alik's legs]]
44	%%* BlastingItOutOfTheirHands: Carmen does this to Waldo in China.
45	* BlondeBrunetteRedhead: In the literal sense, not as a symbol of womanhood. Zack is the blonde, Waldo the brunette, and Ivy is the redhead.
46	%%* BrotherSisterTeam: Zack and Ivy, as in their source material.
47	* BurnBabyBurn: Carmen threatens to dispose of the Doctor's journal in this way, one page a day, if the WSO doesn't produce results on [[spoiler: curing Alik's legs]].
48	* CaptainObvious: Alik [[InvokedTrope notices himself do this]] when [[spoiler: Carmen is shot]].
49	* CerebusSyndrome: A touch of this, but the author still tries to keep things light.
50	%%* ChekhovsSkill: Carmen's bartitsu training.
51	%%* CheerfulChild: Waldo's thoughts on watching Zack and a Russian girl teach Ivy a song.
52	* CheeseEatingSurrenderMonkeys: Waldo and Carmen banter about each others' country's stereotypes. For Waldo, topics included that the French are weak, can't punch worth a damn, suck at war, and smell like moldy cheese.
53	* ChristmasEpisode: Chapter 30. Incorrectly called a ChristmasSpecial, [[FridgeLogic or Pentharis was referencing the British usage.]]
54	%%* ClassifiedInformation
55	%%* ClassyCatBurglar: Both Carmens.
56	* CodeName: No one uses their real names. They feel the codenames are more convenient and they become NomDeGuerre.
57	* [[ColdBloodedTorture Cold-Blooded Torture]]: Carmen to [[spoiler: Martin]].
58	* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: The Doctor marked his wiring so he could remember the system because he was growing old. This worked to Carmen's advantage.
59	%%* ContinuityNod
60	* CoolCar: Carmen likes Waldo's Camaro.
61	** Martin is given a small car based on the Film/AustinPowers mini-coop.
62	* CriminalAmnesiac: Carmen takes advantage of Mayhem's amnesia, augmented by [[IOweYouMyLife his debt to her]], to make him join VILE.
63	* CrypticBackgroundReference: Whatever happened in Holland between Carmen and Erin.
64	** The ATK.
65	%%* CyanidePill: Standard practice if a WSO agent is captured by the enemy.
66	%%* DatingCatwoman: Waldo and Carmen.
67	%%* DeaderThanDead: The fate Waldo wanted for the Spider of Questionable Toxicity in Chapter 39.
68	%%* DeadlyPrank: Why the WSO agents don't usually partake in office practical jokes.
69	%%* DeadpanSnarker
70	* {{Deconstruction}}:
71	-->"Unlike spy movies that would have one believe that everything exciting is last-resort and complex, the truth of the matter was that spying was built on redundancies, boredom, and 'close enough for government work' mentality. Well, depending on the organization, and how serious the matter was."
72	%%* DeepCoverAgent: Flo in her BackStory.
73	* DepartmentOfRedundancyDepartment: Justified when Alik tells Carmen what happened on the boat, he lists that she was shot, dove into the water, and that she was shot. She was shot twice.
74	* DisposingOfABody: Waldo suggested a VikingFuneral to do so in Chapter 39, [[KillItWithFire Killing It With Fire]] to ensure the Spider of Questionable Toxicity was DeaderThanDead.
75	* DisproportionateRetribution: Waldo daydreams about pulling his gun to shoot a "[[SpidersAreScary Spider of Questionable Toxicity]]."
76	* DogStereotype: The Mexican, Carlos, became a chihuahua. He's the Taco Bell dog.
77	%%* DoubleEntendre: Occasionally.
78	%%* DreamingTheTruth: [[spoiler: Waldo's EroticDream with Carmen.]]
79	* DressingAsTheEnemy: Carmen incapacitates and steals a security guard's uniform while in the spy boat.
80	* DrowningMySorrows: Waldo when he fails to capture Carmen. Also to keep himself from smoking. Yes, he knows that's bad.
81	%%* DuelOfSeduction: Waldo and Carmen.
82	* EitherOrTitle: Chapter 28: "[[LampshadeHanging Apparently I've forgotten]] [[CerebusSyndrome that this used to be a funny story]]" or "[[spoiler:[[SpoilerTitle Hey look, I didn't kill the dog!]]]]"
83	%%* EroticDream: The beginning of Chapter 21.
84	* ElaborateUndergroundBase: Inverted as the ACME base is above ground and so garish that Waldo can compare it only to modern art and [[LampshadeHanging wonders how they can hide in plain sight so well]].
85	%%* EmotionlessGirl: Ivy.
86	* EqualOpportunityEvil: VILE, in the sense that no matter your condition you can join, but you have to pass the same spy tests as everyone else. [[HandicappedBadass Even in a wheelchair]].
87	%%* ExactEavesdropping
88	* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The World Spy Organization is an international spy organization.
89	** Chapter 30, the ChristmasEpisode was titled the ChristmasSpecial, trope nomenclature aside.
90	* FaceHeelTurn: The original Carmen Sandiego to the World Spy Organization.
91	** Also Mayhem, but it's part of his debut. Flo, too.
92	%%* {{Fainting}}: Carmen takes her flirting a bit too far and Alik can't handle it.
93	%%* FemmeFatale: Carmen. Also Flo.
94	* FieryRedhead: Inverted with Ivy, who's calm and in control.
95	* FirstNameBasis:
96	** Martin tells people his [[RealNameAsAnAlias real first name]], rather than his code name.
97	** Carlos takes pride in his first ''spy'' name basis with Flo. All the VILE agents call her by "Flo" as well.
98	* FlatWhat:
99	-->'''Carmen''': Birds of a feather, my sweet. ''Birds of a feather''.\
100	'''Waldo''': I hate birds.\
101	'''Carmen''': So do I, I prefer cats. You?\
102	'''Waldo''': Dogs.\
103	'''Carmen''': Pity. We could have gotten a pet. I guess we'll have to have children instead.\
104	'''Waldo''': ...What.
105	* ForcedTransformation: Spies were captured and [[{{Animorphism}} turned into animals]] by the Doctor. Mayhem, Martin, and Carlos were among those affected.
106	* ForcefulKiss: Carmen to Waldo. Then [[spoiler:Waldo to Carmen, to put her in her place]].
107	* {{Foreshadowing}}: Invoked by the narrator, saying Mayhem and Mischief's names were "almost prophetic" before they encountered Waldo.
108	* FrenchCuisineIsHaughty: Waldo indulges in a glass of vodka early on as a toast to Carmen's ability. He speculates that she enjoys French wines in the same way and because [[WineIsClassy she's classy]].
109	* FunWithAcronyms:
110	** "CARMEN" is actually Carmen's job title: "Careful Acquiring, Ranged Monitor, Espionage, Negation."
111	** VILE stands for [[spoiler: Vitally Improved Liberation Economics]]. "[[InvokedTrope They mostly just wanted the acronym to sound evil]]."
112	** Waldo suspects that the ATK was named that as a shortening of "attack" rather than a meaningful acronym.
113	%%* GayParee: Carmen visits here to steal [[MacGuffin the Mona Lisa]] from The Louvre.
114	* GenderBender: In RealLife, the Taco Bell dog was female, while Carlos is a man.
115	%%* GeniusCripple: Alik with technology.
116	* GetItOverWith: [[spoiler: Martin's attitude towards dying at Carmen's hands. He's dying anyway.]]
117	* GogglesDoSomethingUnusual: Waldo's glasses take pictures.
118	* GoingNative: Waldo, Ivy, and Zach lived among the locals in Russia and became part of the community.
119	* GoodCopBadCop: Martin compares his treatment by Carmen (Bad) and Alik (Good) to this. He later asks his WSO friends to not be too hard on Alik because he was kind to him.
120	* GoodNewsBadNews: The narrator on the WSO's boat base. Good News: Avoiding detection is easy. Bad News: Spies get seasick.
121	%%* [[GoodParents Good Parent]]: Waldo's impression of Carmen the First.
122	* GoodSmokingEvilSmoking: Waldo is a smoker (and French), but he's trying to quit. Sometimes with Alcohol. Yes, he knows that's no better.
123	* GratuitousForeignLanguage: Pentharis uses Google Translate for the foreign dialogue, so not all of it is perfect. The negative aspects of this trope are averted because it does still makes sense.
124	* GunpointBanter: Mayhem and Waldo have a good example during their MexicanStandoff in Chapter 23.
125	* HairOfGoldHeartOfGold: Alik becomes this. Characters comment upon his innocent demeanor.
126	%%* HandCannon: Erin's gun from Chapter 15.
127	* HandicappedBadass: Alik is a certified spy for VILE, an organization whose training does not accommodate any handicaps. He passed their tests in his wheelchair.
128	* HandWave: Martin is in a gecko body and his long life for a gecko doesn't necessarily make sense, but he's just very long lived.
129	%%* HappilyAdopted: Carmen. As happy as you can get being raised to become a spy.
130	%%* HealingFactor: Snarked about in Chapter 39.
131	* HeroesRUs: ACME and the WSO are heroic organizations.
132	* HeroicFireRescue: OK, Carmen caused the fire and she did it to [[IOweYouMyLife indenture Mayhem to her]], but she [[PetTheDog saved the dog]]! [[spoiler:[[KickTheDog While killing many others]].]]
133	* HerrDoktor: The Doctor speaks in German and is referred to as this by Martin. Nonetheless, he's [[SubvertedTrope Swiss]].
134	* HiddenInPlainSight: The WSO time machine when Waldo takes it to Russia.
135	* HiddenSupplies: Carmen Sandiego (the mother) kept caches with frivolous, fun things all around her house. Waldo suspected this was in case she ever decided to have children, so they would be able to find them. He was time travelling at the time.
136	* HistoricalInJoke: The abound in Chapter 35. Notably, Carmen Sandiego I causing the Mayan calendar conspiracy.
137	%%* HugAndComment: [[spoiler: Alik and Carmen]] in Chapter 39.
138	%%* IAmTheNoun: Mayhem gives a speech based upon his source commercials.
139	* ICantBelieveAGuyLikeYouWouldNoticeMe: In the opening chapters, Alik's reaction to Carmen's flirting is like this. As it progresses, this is tweaked to there existing an implicit trust between them, but he still thinks she'll never notice him as more than a coworker or sidekick.
140	%%* IcyBlueEyes: Carmen, as illustrated in the page pic.
141	%%* IdentityAmnesia: Mayhem.
142	%%* IDoNotOwn: "Legal bull."
143	* IllTimedSneeze: [[spoiler:Martin sneezes while in Carmen's headquarters. He's caught because of it.]]
144	* INeedAFreakingDrink: Waldo will turn to cigarettes when things go wrong, but he's trying to quit. He also goes on drinking binges when he fails to catch Carmen.
145	* InsecureLoveInterest: Alik, as a NonActionGuy of sorts, doesn't think he's good enough for Carmen and just wants her to be happy, even if it means Waldo gets her.
146	* InsecurityCamera: Mayhem gives Carmen a code that will disable the WSO's camera system, putting them on a loop.
147	** Also subverted because VILE already knew about and had used the code, before she ever became a spy, so it had already been fixed.
148	* InterspeciesRomance: They were together before he was turned into a chihuahua and Flo's sparing Carlos's life hints at this.
149	* InLoveWithTheMark: Waldo, a completely professional spy, is accused of this by his coworkers. He wonders about it himself.
150	* IOweYouMyLife: Mayhem is indebted to Carmen this way, so he pulls a FaceHeelTurn.
151	* IsThisThingStillOn: Alik leaves his microphone running and Carmen hears him sing.
152	* ItsAllMyFault: Waldo blames himself for [[spoiler:Martin's injuries]].
153	* ItsPersonal: Between Erin and Carmen there exists bad blood. First for Holland, then for [[spoiler: Martin]]. Also some with Waldo's fixation on catching Carmen, because of so many failures.
154	* ItAmusedMe: Carmen flirts with Alik far more than he's comfortable with because she liked to see him squirm a bit.
155	** Alik wears a suit to amuse himself and Carmen.
156	** Alik hacks into social networking sites when he's feeling puckish.
157	** Carmen muses hypothetically about leaving a card on Waldo's grave that says "At least now you're not cremating your lungs" if he died of lung cancer before catching her. This was her reason.
158	* IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy: Alik for Carmen.
159	* JustAStupidAccent: Averted. All the characters speak their native tongues, but the author doesn't type their accents into their English.
160	* LandDownunder: Subverted and played straight with Waldo's perception. He doesn't like going there because of the [[CrypticBackgroundReference ATK]], but he also hates snakes and once saw a spider kill a bird.
161	* LegacyCharacter: Carmen is actually Carmen Sandiego II. [[PassingTheTorch The original was her mother]].
162	* LemonyNarrator: Pentharis makes parenthetical asides at times, more in some parts than others.
163	* LikeASonToMe: Like A Daughter To Me: Martin's relationship with Erin.
164	* LikeBrotherandSister: How Mayhem and Alik interpret Carmen's feelings towards the latter. That doesn't mean he doesn't secretly pine for a RelationshipUpgrade.
165	%%* LikeAnOldMarriedCouple: Waldo and Carmen.
166	* LimaSyndrome: Alik treats [[spoiler: Martin]] well [[spoiler: while he's captured]].
167	%%* LittleMissSnarker: Ivy is a mild example.
168	* LongDistanceRelationship: A platonic one between [[spoiler: Waldo and Carmen I]], due to time travel.
169	* LoveMakesYouEvil: [[spoiler: Flo and Mayhem, in the sense that it leads them to join forces and plan to betray VILE.]]
170	* KeyUnderTheDoormat: Carmen Sandiego the First didn't keep a spare key this way because "she wasn't an idiot."
171	* LoveTriangle: Waldo, Carmen, and Alik are in a love triangle. However, Carmen rates her feelings for Alik higher than those she has for Waldo and tells her rival so. Alik [[IWantMyBelovedToBeHappy just wants Carmen to be happy]].
172	%%* MadScientist: The Doctor.
173	* MacGyvering: How Carmen protected Martin's file from the water.
174	%%* MacGuffin: The Mona Lisa.
175	* ManChild: Sometimes Alik thinks Carmen sees him as one of these.
176	* MasterOfDisguise: Carlos, before he became a chihuahua. He doesn't mind much, because people tend to underestimate chihuahuas.
177	%%* MexicanStandoff: Chapter 23 is one between Mayhem and Waldo.
178	%%* MentorOccupationalHazard: Not a death, however.
179	* MindScrew: Zack is given one by the engineer. In Chapter 37, the engineer relates that the time travel mission took place [[YearInsideHourOutside in ten seconds for him]], as he was not a field agent. He wondered if the Chronoskimmer crew was [[UsefulNotes/SchrodingersCat alive or dead]] for those ten seconds, from his perspective.
180	%%* TheMole: Flo, in her BackStory.
181	%%* MostFanficWritersAreGirls
182	%%* MutilationInterrogation
183	* MutualDisadvantage: At the meet in Chapter 37, both sides have snipers to discourage funny business.
184	* MyGrandmaCanDoBetterThanYou: Carmen's grandmother can hit harder than Waldo.
185	* NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast: The Spider of Questionable Toxicity.
186	* NeverTheSelvesShallMeet: The engineer from Chapter 33 completes the time machine after a few weeks then time travels back to the start, where his younger self directs Waldo to the room with the completed time machine and the older engineer.
187	%%* NewMeat: Erik.
188	%%* {{NGO}}: The WSO and VILE.
189	%%* NiceGuy: Alik.
190	%%* NomDeGuerre
191	* NonActionGuy: Erik E., more before he became a spy, but he's an information gatherer so he's less active than other agents. Also, [[spoiler:after being maimed, Martin]] expects all he'll be good for is a desk job of some kind.
192	** Also Alik, but he has techie skills.
193	* NotBloodSiblings: [[spoiler: Zack and Ivy]], as established in Chapter 33. Let the {{Shipping}} commence.
194	* NotSoDifferentRemark:
195	-->'''Carmen''': "You and I are a lot alike, Wally."
196	%%* NumberTwo: Alik to Carmen.
197	%%* OffTheWagon: Waldo with his smoking habit.
198	* OhCrap: Martin, [[spoiler:after his IllTimedSneeze]].
199	* {{Omniglot}}: Justified as it being necessary for international spies, but also averted because they do not have ''native'' fluency and references to imperfect translating ability are made. For example, Carmen tries to translate Martin's file from German, but she can only get the gist of the document. Waldo knows several languages: French, German, Chinese, English, and Russian. [[spoiler: He pales in comparison to Zack, who knows ''twenty''.]]
200	* [[OnlyOneMeAllowedRightNow Only One You Allowed Right Now]]: Alik doesn't want Carmen to screw up the past and make him have to talk to two of her through the timestream.
201	* OriginalCharacter: Alik, Mischief, and the Doctor.
202	%%* OvertRendezvous: Carmen and Waldo meet for the first time face-to-face this way.
203	%%* PassingTheTorch: Carmen Sandiego I to her daughter.
204	* PayEvilUntoEvil: Mayhem's {{Revenge}} on the Doctor for transplanting him into a dog.
205	* PetTheDog: Carmen rescued Mischief and adopted him as TeamPet.
206	%%* PhotographicMemory: Zack.
207	* PistolWhipping: Waldo knocks Carmen out this way.
208	* PoorCommunicationKills: Erik notices something's wrong with Waldo, but he won't press him about it for two reasons: first, because he's a man and men [[YouDidntAsk don't ask]] other men about their feelings and, second, because Waldo's a man and he likely [[MenDontCry won't talk about it]].
209	* PrecisionFStrike: Waldo to Carlos.
210	-->'''Waldo:''' Merry-friggin'-Christmas to you too, rat-ears.
211	* {{Protectorate}}: Several, at different times. Notably, Waldo considers Ivy and Zack something of a {{Protectorate}}, but also his entire team.
212	* ReadTheFreakingManual: Carmen the First to Waldo in Chapter 35.
213	* RealNameAsAnAlias: Martin is in a gecko body. He gives out his real first name as an alias because who could track down his family based upon "Martin" and a UK accent?
214	* RedOniBlueOni: Zack is passionate about his desire to be a spy and is outgoing while Ivy is quiet and focused. Played with a bit as Zack is better at standard medical care while Ivy considers herself a "Macguyver Medic."
215	* ReptilesAreAbhorrent: Waldo doesn't like [[LandDownunder Australia's snakes]]. He still has the scar to show why.
216	%%* RescueIntroduction: Mayhem and Mischief.
217	* {{Retcon}}: Originally, Erik was named "[[MrSmith David Doe]]" because Pentharis couldn't find out his name was. Soon after he debuted, a fan found out for her and she corrected it retroactively.
218	* {{Retirony}}: [[spoiler:Martin only agreed to shadow Carmen because it was one last mission and Erin asked him to.]]
219	* RiddleMeThis: How Carmen gets Waldo to return to France in the first chapter.
220	* RunningGag: Referring to Mayhem as a dog in varied contexts.
221	** "My name is not Wally."
222	* SarcasmMode: When symptoms of the LemonyNarrator arise, this is generally among them.
223	* SayMyName: Erik's introduction is him calling out Erin's name several times.
224	* ScaryBlackMan: Dennis, who outranks Waldo at the WSO, intimidates the Frenchman quite a bit.
225	%%* SecretWar
226	* SecurityCling: Erik and Erin hold each other when they find out [[spoiler:Martin is in grave peril]] and later spend the night in each others' arms to support each other while [[spoiler:he is recovering]].
227	** Ivy holds Zack's arm when they travel to Russia, where she's intimidated by not knowing the native tongue.
228	* SeenItAll: Mayhem, then a dog, could talk, but Carmen didn't think that was so weird considering everything else going on.
229	** Her mother demonstrated this as well.
230	%%* SensualSlavs: Carmen.
231	%%* SequelHook: Some chapters more than others.
232	%%* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Waldo on Carmen.
233	* ShoutOut:
234	** Both Waldo and Carmen are stated to have uncanny aptitudes for hiding in plain sight despite garish clothing.
235	** Upon Carmen's arrival on a [[JustForFun/FortyTwo forty-second]] floor, the [[LemonyNarrator narrator]] muses that [[Franchise/TheHitchhikersGuideToTheGalaxy the answer to life, the universe and everything would be guarded by sentient singing dolphins]] there.
236	** There are some explicit mentions of Film/JamesBond.
237	** "[[Literature/NineteenEightyFour Big Brother]] would like you to call home more."
238	** If you know that ''Where's Waldo'' is not the franchise's original name, you'll see more in Waldo's [[AccidentalMisnaming aversion to being called "Wally"]].
239	** In her source material (Well, after some retconning), Carmen defected from ACME, as she did to the WSO.
240	** Mayhem gives one of his now famous IAmTheNoun speeches.
241	** Erik, the black-haired LoveInterest from Erin Esurance's commercials gets involved with the WSO because he saw the same pink-haired girl far too often for it to be a coincidence, as in the commercials.
242	** Martin is the animal mascot of a car insurance company. DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything
243	** Carlos is named after the voice of the dog in the commercials, Carlos Alazraqui.
244	** Dennis, who is the black Allstate spokesman, is also named after the actor who portrays him, Creator/DennisHaysbert.
245	** [[WesternAnimation/RudolphTheRedNosedReindeer Special Agent Rudolph is a reindeer]]. From the ChristmasEpisode, naturally.
246	** Martin likes the Film/AustinPowers movies.
247	** The engineer in Chapter 33 says "Can you still hear me? Good!", implying he's the famous Verizon mascot. WordOfGod [[https://twitter.com/Pentharis/status/251530915170365440 confirms this]].
248	** Chapter 34 is riddled with references to the Carmen Sandiago franchise.
249	** Carmen Sandiego I kept caches around her house. In two of them were pages from ''Literature/TheWonderfulWizardOfOz'' and ''Literature/{{Frankenstein}}''.
250	%%* SelfDeprecation: Indulged in by Pentharid at times. PlayedForLaughs.
251	* ShoePhone: Waldo's [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual glasses]] take pictures.
252	* ShowSomeLeg: Waldo doesn't outwardly take the bait, but Carmen tries this when he captures her.
253	%%* SnarkToSnarkCombat
254	%%* SoapOperaDisease: Alik lost his legs because of one.
255	* SpidersAreScary: The Spider of Questionable Toxicity in Chapter 39.
256	%%* SpyFiction: Martini Flavored.
257	%%* SpyVersusSpy
258	* StableTimeLoop: During Carmen's time traveling, she set a fire in the Doctor's lab, killing many agents trapped in animal bodies. Carlos, turned into an animal and present there, references this event in the present.
259	** The engineer constructing the time machine brings it to Waldo while his younger self is still working on it.
260	** In Chapter 36, [[spoiler: Waldo suggests to Carmen I that she adopt.]]
261	* StealthPun: Just before she boards the Chronoskimmer, Carmen tells Alik that she'll see him "in time."
262	* StockholmSyndrome: Mayhem's joining VILE after Carmen saved his life. She plans to indoctrinate him so he'll ''want'' to work for them.
263	%%* StockPhrases: Used throughout.
264	%%* SuspiciouslySpecificTense: Carmen I in Chapter 36.
265	* SympatheticPOV.: Half the story is from VILE's perspective and they aren't made out to look like bad people. Rather, they aren't so different from the WSO and merely have different aims.
266	* [[TagalongKid Tagalong Kids]]: The ACME kids to Waldo, but they pull their own weight.
267	* TakeThat: "It sounded horrifying, 'teaching' someone to like something. But honestly, how what that any different from public school in the States?"
268	%%* TalkingAnimal
269	%%* TallDarkAndHandsome: Waldo.
270	* TakeCareOfTheKids: [[spoiler: Waldo promises Carmen I that he will take care of her daughter]].
271	%%* TeamPet: Mischief.
272	* TemptingFate:
273	-->They had no building plans, no plans of action, no idea how to find out where she was, and indeed: No idea if Carmen was still there. Surely there was no possible way this could go horrendously wrong and he was going to have to explain to two children's families why they wouldn't be coming home from work that day.
274	* TerribleTrio: Carmen with Alik and Mayhem. Flo doesn't count because she's just another member of VILE, not part of their team.
275	* ThemeNaming: Mayhem and Mischief.
276	** AnimalThemeNaming: Carmen calls Alik "moi krolik", meaning "my rabbit" in Russian.
277	* TheMindIsAPlaythingOfTheBody: Mayhem seems to have picked up a few traits from his time as a dog.
278	* ThisIsNoTimeToPanic: When Erin starts panicking, Waldo buys her a drink so she'll calm down.
279	* TimeAndRelativeDimensionsInSpace: Carmen considers for a moment that the chronoskimmer might not teleport over space, but it does indeed.
280	%%* TimeMachine: The Chronoskimmer, a TARDIS type.
281	%%* TimeTravel
282	%%* TimeTravelersAreSpies
283	* TimeTravelTenseTrouble:
284	-->'''Waldo''': "How goes the building of the time machine?"\
285	'''Engineer''': Great, we should be done by next week, so you can leave any minute."\
286	'''Waldo''': What? [[DrunkenMaster Is this one of those things you have to be drunk to understand]]?"
287	%%** The LemonyNarrator [[InvokedTrope invokes]] this in Chapter 35.
288	* TimeyWimeyBall: Carmen time travels to the Doctor's lab where he's turning spies into animals. There was intended to be a somewhat lengthy gap between that point and the present, [[PlotHole but Geckos don't live long enough for that]]. The author noticed and she decided to play through without more exposition than that Martin thinks he's near death because of his gecko body's age.
289	** Neither is she certain about how Carmen Sandiego I's HeelFaceTurn fits on the timeline because the given date of March 1973 may not be far enough in the past.
290	*** WordOfGod places the present of the story at about 2030, to somewhat address this.
291	* TokenMinority: While the story is international, the main characters originate from Caucasian countries. One of the WSO higher-ups, Dennis, is a black man, however. He's Allstate's primary spokesman.
292	* TortureAlwaysWorks: Subverted when [[spoiler: Martin did not give Carmen information because of her torture, but she didn't ask for spying information, only what Waldo thought of her.]]
293	** Also [[AvertedTrope Averted]], as The Doctor's torture of Mayhem was unsuccessful.
294	%%* ToTheBatpole: How Carmen escapes from Waldo's clutches in the opening chapters.
295	* ToThePain: "If you ever call me 'Moi krolik' again I will harvest your organs while you sleep and sell them on the black market." - Alik to Mayhem.
296	* TrashTalk: Between spies, naturally. Lots of [[DeadpanSnarker snark]].
297	* TrackingDevice: First Carmen plants one on Waldo, then Waldo plants one on her car later in the series. Every WSO agent has one either on their person or under their skin. It stops broadcasting when they die.
298	** Alik put one in the fur of Mayhem's coat.
299	* TrueArtIsIncomprehensible: Upon seeing the ACME base, Waldo can only compare it to Modern Art, which he appreciates in general. However, thinks it looks rather weird and can't quite understand why the secret base is so blatantly garish.
300	%%* TurnCoat: Carmen Sandiego I and Mayhem.
301	%%* UncannyFamilyResemblance: The Carmens, though not related.
302	* TheUnfavourite: Mayhem has lower standing than Mischief in Carmen's eyes.
303	* UnderestimatingBadassery: Mayhem speaks with respect when talking to Carmen, but not so when addressing Alik. He learns.
304	%%* UnderwaterBase: The WSO spy boat.
305	* UnresolvedSexualTension: Much. Mostly between Waldo and Carmen, but also present in some scenes from Alik's perspective. Also towards Carmen.
306	* WellIntentionedExtremist: VILE [[spoiler: conducts its activities to distract governments and give them something to rally against. They give the news something to report on and provide a "bad guy" for the counties to focus on.]]
307	* WhatDidIDoLastNight: Carmen upon waking up in a cot with Alik, though it was benign. Also Waldo, [[spoiler: during his dream.]]
308	%%* WhenSheSmiles: Alik for Carmen.
309	* WineIsClassy: Waldo speculates that Carmen would like wine because she's classy.
310	* WhiteAndGreyMorality: WSO being White and VILE being Grey.
311	* WorthyOpponent: One way Carmen and Waldo view each other.
312	%%* WouldHitAGirl: Waldo.
313	* WrittenSoundEffect: Mayhem trudging through the snow: "Crunch. Crunch. Crunch."
314	%%* VodkaDrunkenski: Waldo and Carmen joke about this.
315	%%* YearInsideHourOutside: Waldo's corresponding with Carmen I.
316	%%%%* YouAreNotAlone: Again, Waldo's corresponding with Carmen I.
317	* YouCanTalk: Mayhem's debut as a talking dog. [[SeenItAll Carmen takes it in stride]].
318	* YouFightLikeACow: Carmen and Waldo engage in this, especially in the early chapters.
319	%%* YourMom: The conclusion of Mayhem's IAmTheNoun speech to Waldo.

Context FanFic / WhereOnEarthSpies