'''Basic Trope''': Evil character does something that endears them to the audience, only to reveal their true nature later on.
* '''Straight''': Among [[TheEmperor Emperor Evulz']] ranks is [[DarkActionGirl Lady Scarlett]], a FriendlyEnemy who treats [[LadyOfWar Lorelai]] as a WorthyOpponent, and always tries to fight her on equal terms, with [[LetsFightLikeGentlemen no tricks nor underhanded tactics]]. However, she later reveals her true nature as a battle-crazed BloodKnight [[InLoveWithYourCarnage who loves seeing Lorelai battle]] and will do ANYTHING to bait her into another fight... including crossing the MoralEventHorizon.
* '''Exaggerated''':
** Scarlett's introduction involves her discovering a small group of refugees from TheEmpire's latest conquest. She playfully mocks their initial fright, soothing them with casual jokes and clear concern for their safety, offering supplies and traveling tips. Later on, she attacks the very town she sent them towards -- as she reveals upon finding them, she only let them go in the first place so she could savor their shock at her betrayal.
** The first time we see Scarlett, she's working as the main caretaker in an OrphanageOfLove for children that lost their parents to Emperor Evulz' war. She seems extremely loving and caring, and she even goes on her way to risk her life in order to protect them. And ''then'' it's revealed to be a cruel facade, as the "orphanage" is just a front for [[PlayingWithSyringes an illegal research facility]], where [[MadDoctor she personally conducts cruel experiments]] on said children, who all have been brain-washed [[HappinessIsMandatory to ignore their dire situation]]. And all those times she risked herself to protect them? [[PragmaticVillainy She was just securing her "investment"]].
--->'''Scarlett''': "Children are cheap, expendable, useless... The technology inside some of them is not."
* '''Downplayed''':
** Lady Scarlett first seems like a cruel BloodKnight who only targets those she deems strong enough to kill. But then its revealed she will attack helpless people too.
** Lady Scarlett has a [[HeroWithBadPublicity bad reputation]]. but seems to be the embodiment of IncorruptiblePurePureness. While the purity is genuine, she does turn out to be somewhat of an AntiHero with a darker side.
** JerkWithAHeartOfJerk
** BitchInSheepsClothing
** Lady Scarlett is a NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist
** YankTheDogsChain
* '''Justified''':
** Scarlett is in a position where it pays to be a VillainWithGoodPublicity.
** Scarlett would be locked up[=/=]deserted by her allies[=/=]double-crossed at the first opportunity if she showed outright how evil she is. Nonetheless, she still enjoys her sadistic actions all too much to want to give them up if not needed.
** Alternately, Scarlett has to keep up her image or else her allies will kill her for "going soft". Scarlett hates doing this but it's for her own survival.
* '''Inverted''':
** Vladimir looks like a really unpleasant guy at first with his contemptuous demeanor and [[DirtyBusiness shady actions]]. However, he turns out to be one of the most heroic people Lorelai has met. So in other words: JerkWithAHeartOfGold.
** The audience is led to believe Vladimer is an evil, disgusting man who trained Scarlett to become the murderous nut she is... Only for it to be revealed that Scarlett was a DeceptiveDisciple and/or APupilOfMineUntilHeTurnedToEvil. Vladimir is actually [[FaceOfAThug a really]] [[HiddenHeartOfGold pleasant guy]] who stops his important charity work to give the heroes some tea and cookies.
** Scarlett is shown to be an [[OnlyInItForTheMoney amoral mercenary]] ColdSniper, seeking only for self-preservation and quick buck, shooting enemies down without hesitation or remorse... except, when targeting an enemy in a crowd of passers-by, [[AdoptTheDog she'd rather let the mark go]] [[WouldNotShootACivilian than harm an innocent]]. And she can ([[CombatMedic and will]]) patch up a wounded victim if they are subdued non-lethally -- [[HitmanWithAHeart which she often tries to go for]], unless specifically ordered to kill the mark. ''And'' [[SugarAndIcePersonality beneath the icy cover]] [[FriendlySniper she hides an amicable, warm personality]]. Oh, and she took that job up because she needs to feed her family, care for her ill parents, and save up for her own business -- and a spec-ops marksman[=/=]markswoman happened to be the best-paid among available positions.
** Scarlett is initially presented as being purely evil with no redeeming qualities. She goes on to display more nuance during her subsequent appearances and - [[NobleDemon while she stays a villain]] - show that she's still capable of things like love, empathy and kindness [[EvenEvilHasLovedOnes to her loved ones]].
** Scarlett is set up to be like this based on audience expectations, she turns out to be the nicest person out ofthe entire cast of characters, even more so than any of the heroes.
** Scarlett is on the ''receiving'' end of this trope. She's a genuinely AffablyEvil PunchClockVillain who trusts the heroes who turn into [[DesignatedHero Designated Heroes]] when they not only [[HeelFaceDoorSlam reject Scarlett so brutally they]] [[KickTheDog make her cry]] but [[MoralEventHorizon make her life a living hell]] [[KnightTemplar all to hurt Evulz]]. They insist it's a case of ShootTheDog (when it's really more like ShootTheShaggyDog for poor Scarlett), but Scarlett ends up at best crossing the DespairEventHorizon at worst DeaderThanDead, and worst of all, Evulz doesn't care. And neither do the "heroes", which come across as a NotSoWellIntentionedExtremist organization.
* '''Subverted''': Scarlett really ''is'' a [[AffablyEvil decent]] [[NobleDemon person]] despite working for TheEmpire.
* '''Double Subverted''': ...Only that's [[BitchInSheepsClothing all just an act]] to lure people off-guard.
* '''Parodied''': Scarlett is a clacking DastardlyWhiplash that lures children to [[Literature/HanselAndGretel her gingerbread house to cook them in a stew]]; and yet, [[HorribleJudgeOfCharacter the heroes]] think she's just a nice lady that likes to give food and shelter to unfortunate children. Even her EvilLaugh is rationalized as her being just [[FunPersonified an extremely happy person]] who happens to have a quirky manner of laughing.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Despite the lengths she'll go to get a good fight out of Lorelai, she genuinely does respect her as a WorthyOpponent, has a few legitimate PetTheDog moments, and has her own ([[BlueAndOrangeMorality warped, complex, and somewhat contradictory and hard to grasp]]) Code of Honor.
* '''Averted''': Scarlett is just as [[NobleDemon noble]] as she lets on.
* '''Enforced''': The author starts Scarlett's CharacterDevelopment by [[PetTheDog showing her heroic side]], but [[ExecutiveMeddling executives]] insist on [[StatusQuoIsGod sticking to the status quo]].
* '''Lampshaded''': Scarlett is a {{Cloudcuckoolander}}, and upon committing her [[MoralEventHorizon crossing]], she [[AsideGlance appears to look directly at the audience]] while asking "What did you expect?"
* '''Invoked''': Emperor Evulz coaches Scarlett to act friendly and use her charm to lure people off their guard.
* '''Exploited''': Scarlett always makes sure to make a good first impression so that she can remain a VillainWithGoodPublicity. No one who ever sees what's BeneathTheMask ever lives to tell.
* '''Defied''':
** [[LivingLieDetector Vladimir]] makes it clear he knows what kind of a person Scarlett is really like and that her charming face doesn't work on him.
** The only virtue that Scarlett has is [[VillainsNeverLie integrity]] -- [[CardCarryingVillain she makes no attempt to hide what she is]] and resists attempts to even partially conceal her intentions.
** Scarlett is a genuinely nice person who refuses to partake in this trope no matter how tempting, no matter the gain.
* '''Discussed''': "Never, ever, let your guard down around Scarlett, ''especially'' when she gets nicer and friendlier. You may be sure it's just an act to sneak up to you closer and bite you at the worst moment."
* '''Conversed''': "Have you ever noticed there's one villain they're setting you up to really like that turns out to be complete scum? It's probably gonna be Scarlett."
* '''Deconstructed''': Lorelai becomes distrusting of everyone after seeing how bad Scarlett is, and develops a case of BlackAndWhiteInsanity where she thinks everyone working on the villains' side, no matter how seemingly sympathetic, must be secretly a CompleteMonster.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
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