'''Basic Trope''': Mysterious young female who is pivotal to the plot.
* '''Straight''': Alice is an ethereal, fascinating young woman who meets TheHero, Bob. She is being pursued by TheEmpire and the BigBad, Emperor Evulz, so Bob agrees to protect her and her lucky amulet in exchange for the use of her healing powers.
* '''Exaggerated''': Aerith is a completely cryptic and inscrutable young woman who is ReallySevenHundredYearsOld, has vast magical powers, is self sacrificing almost to the point of being a doormat, and holds a locket with the key to a utopia.
* '''Downplayed''': Alice isn't that cryptic, and she looks like the GirlNextDoor aside from her unusually dark eyes, but she can't give a satisfying explanation of where her amulet came from.
* '''Justified''': Having to hide from [[BigBad Emperor Evulz]], or just from a misunderstanding society at large, because of her gifts, leads to a certain sense of 'distance' from everyone else.
* '''Inverted''':
** There is nothing mysterious about Alice at all.
** There is nothing ethereal about Alice at all.
** There is nothing fascinating about Alice at all.
** Alice is [[CombatPragmatist pragmatic]], clear, [[TerseTalker concise]], and [[CoolOldLady old]].
* '''Subverted''': Bob comes across Alice, who initially is a bit distant and ethereal seeming, but she was just distracted when he showed up. Her necklace turns out to simply be a gift from a girlfriend and isn't particularly plot relevant.
* '''Double Subverted''':
** However, that is just a ruse- she has even greater secrets than initially imagined.
** Alice had been distracted because she hadn't been out in a city before and was [[MundaneObjectAmazement captivated by a toy demonstration in the window]]. Talking with Alice reveals that the necklace she got from her girlfriend Carol is itself holding some kind of key. All Carol told Alice was that it was extremely important to unlock something, but never elaborated to Alice what “something” is, even when Alice asked.
* '''Parodied''': OrdinaryHighSchoolStudent Bob, [[HeroicWannabe wanting to be a great hero]], goes to find any sort of mysterious girl, convinced that it'll set him on the path to defeating the BigBad, who is simply his {{jerkass}} history teacher who happens to have {{white hair|BlackHeart}}.
* '''Zig Zagged''': Alice has a very special, ornate necklace... which is simply a gift from her best girlfriend... which said girlfriend stole from her uncle's collection of ancient artifacts... but the ancients make useless bric-a-brac too... however, after wearing it, Alice's healing powers surface...
* '''Averted''': There are no mysterious waifs anywhere in the setting.
* '''Enforced''': "As per the executive mandate, all of our games must feature a mysterious woman with magical powers sought after by the BigBad, because it is the perfect way to make the Hero jump at the call."
* '''Lampshaded''':
** "Are you the mysterious girl everyone is talking about? Could you please heal my wound?"
** "Alice, was it? Why do you look just like those female JRPG mascots who kick off the plot by simply being mysterious and vulnerable?"
* '''Invoked''': Alice learns healing magic and attains a powerful magical charm greatly sought after by Evulz, knowing that a hero will come to her aid.
* '''Exploited''': Evulz sends Alice as TheMole for him, knowing that her mysteriousness and inability to answer where she came from will entice Bob and make him an easy target.
* '''Defied''': Alice makes a special effort to be as crystal clear and normal as she can, perhaps even rejecting powers and items if she feels it would draw attention from Evulz.
* '''Discussed''': "This mysterious girl needs our help to save the world from Evulz."
* '''Conversed''': "Hmm, magical powers, hiding a magical crystal, air of mystery... the Emperor will probably be after this character."
* '''Deconstructed''':
** The mysterious waif's tendency towards self-sacrifice is easily exploited by Evulz, thus making quick work of her, and the party ends up grieving.
** ''[[LoveInterestTraitor Alice]] [[BitchInSheepsClothing herself]]'' turns out to be the BigBad, while TheEmpire pursuing her [[GoodAllAlong was trying to stop her]] EvilPlan. [[NiceJobBreakingItHero Nice going, Bob.]] [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome This is why you shouldn’t trust mysterious people who are being pursued by authorities.]]
* '''Reconstructed''':
** However, her magical powers allow her to return to life, or at least a guaranteed [[AscendToAHigherPlaneOfExistence ascension to a higher plane.]]
** Alice became the BigBad because of a FreudianExcuse of a DarkAndTroubledPast that turned her into a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. The plan still needs to be stopped whether Alice [[HeelFaceTurn renounces her plan]] and [[LoveRedeems really falls for Bob]] or [[TragicVillain not]]; the story doesn't happen without her either way.
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%% Optional items, added after Conversed, at your discretion:
%%* '''Implied''': ???
%%* '''Intended Audience Reaction''': ???
%%* '''Played For Laughs''': ???
%%* '''Played For Drama''': ???