Per 
AVATAR is a working name for a pre-greenlight SCP tale.
People exposed to an anomaly gradually transform into an inhuman, non-corporeal state. The transformation is related to some hobby or obsession. The exposure seems to magnify or encourage the hobby or obsession. The resulting state has localized anomalous effects on others, but does not itself create more anomalies.
In the tale, a runner experiences a progressively more intense experience of being "in the zone" or heightened awareness of the act of running. The subject stars achieving personal best times more and more regularly. The subject starts to become less distinct to observers while running but also perhaps attention-grabbing; "shining" or "hot?" As the subject transforms/transitions into the final AVATAR state, others' perceptions of the subject change during everyday activities. Subject spends more and more time running. Ultimately the subject no longer exists in human form and the resulting anomaly inhabits the particular outdoor course where the transformation occurred (a 5 mile loop on a river trail). Others engaging in recreation along this trail experience effects of this child anomaly and it gains a reputation among runners for being a "magical" trail for training and getting PBs.
If writing a related SCP article, consider a means of neutralizing the root cause by manipulating a D-class subject to undergo transformation into an AVATAR of containment or isolation, which would keep potential future subjects from interacting with the root cause.
Need to think about what form the root cause anomaly takes; origins, background. Is it an object of ritual worship? Is the anomaly a creation of some individual with abnormal ability? TBD.
LCIF is a working name for a pre-greenlight SCP article.
LCIF stands for "Limited Conceptual Inversion Field." Within the influence of this anomaly, reality is altered in ways that cause substances and devices to behave in ways that are "inverted" with respect to how their concept is understood by human observers. For example:
- A lighter contains flame; when the wheel is struck, a small spray of lighter fluid is ejected.
- Lotions and creams are dangerous; sunblock causes burns, moisturizer causes dryness, bug spray attracts biting insects.
- Flashlights make whatever they are shining on harder to perceive, except when shining directly in someone's eyes, which makes things easy to see. In this case the lightness or darkness is not directly altered (verified by photo and video analysis). High powered light still causes retinal damage in some cases.
Effects are strongly related to the observer. Items observed remotely by a subject outside of the effective volume of the field do not show anomalous behavior. Items that are not understood by the observer may not show anomalous behavior, or may show anomalous behavior inconsistent with the common understanding of the item, if the subject develops some heterodox or incorrect concept of the item.
Speculate that the field acts directly on observers, and indirectly on the observed, by granting or channeling some reality-warping ability to the observer. Tests show that it is very difficult for the observer to exert any control over this effect, though subjects with particular training or skill in autosuggestion, self-hypnosis, or certain forms of meditation are observed to be able to alter the effect with respect to some items, where the concept of the item is less rigidly defined in the subject's mind. Concepts developed earlier in life, particularly concepts that relate to autonomic physiology, are almost universally uncontrollable. Would be interesting to detail one test subject who has unusual degree of control over these; perhaps a firewalker? Or would the firewalker's concept itself be inverted, such that they are burned while a novice is not?
The effect is "Limited" because of its strong dependency on the perspective of the observed; it tends only to affect portions of the environment that a subject focuses on, though the effect may linger after attention is diverted and also seems to frequently predict or precede attention/focus on the affected object. For example, aforementioned lighter grows unbearably hot in the owner's pocket; owner may have been thinking about having a cigarette, but not consciously aware of any focus on the lighter. Tie in research that suggests the unconscious mind acts significantly before the conscious mind?
Additional research needed into:
- Types of meditation more or less likely to enable the subject to exert control
SCREENSAVER is a working name for a pre-greenlight SCP article.
The anomalous item is a window, painting, or photograph—something framed. The anomaly itself is contained within the frame, which is non-anomalous. It can adapt to different frames; protocol for moving the anomaly should be described in the conprocs, noting that it behaves in a "slippery" way, try to give the impression of a flexible film of some sort. If removed from a frame, it will spread out over a surface that it encounters, favoring surfaces where it can be better viewed. Its ability to adapt to surfaces can be detailed in a series of tests - tabletop, wall, device screen, surface of a liquid, glass that contains the liquid, etc. Possibly behaves a bit like a soap film or bubble in that it can be "captured" from a less suitable/stable surface (like a swimming pool) by contact with a highly suitable frame (such as a bubble wand, polished metal plate, plastic license plate holder).
The anomalous film displays an unlimited number of images in a continuous sequence, with gentle crossfades between each (hence "SCREENSAVER"). The images are not predictable but always represent some scene, figure, or event that is comprehensible to the viewer; it will not iterate through white noise/Jackson Pollock patterns, prefers the concrete to the abstract, and very often the image elicits an emotional response. The viewer need not recognize the image as long as it is comprehensible as something that they might actually observe.
GrigoriKarpin, evening of 2021-01-24 via IRC:
there's a huge assumption on the part of anyone who decided this was harmless without a big enough sample size… given the fact that there's no repeated images, the odds are good eventually it could show a cognitohazard. Hence… stupid
I just for this to make sense as an article, it shouldn't rely so heavily on just the obvious mistakes of someone when the reader will be asking "why didn't they take better precautions?"
I think the idea of having a locked door murder mystery SCP isn't bad, just think the core twist should be something a little more interesting
- Read SCP-5002 for example of successful "locked door murder mystery" article
- Originates from a collection, possibly an estate sale or auction; in possession of someone who knows of its ability to show endless images, but not aware of its more anomalous behaviors when removed from its frame. Foundation somehow tipped off and secures the item despite known and/or suspected interests of competing Groups of Interest. Serpent's Hand known interest; a dealer/broker suspected of involvement with AWCY is observed to be bidding; notably, no evidence of GOC interest—this should help establish that the anomaly is initially considered more a curiosity than a danger. Perhaps a passing mention of Deer College (present at auction?), perhaps note communication with HI contact/mole confirming it's not on their radar.
- After acquiring anomaly, moved to a containment site for rigorous testing and analysis. Assign SCP item number and initial classification, which should not match the current classification on the entry (!).
- Researchers treat the item as a curiosity and move it to a minimum security site (15, 76, or new?) for long term storage. Staff are a bit more lax there. Maybe show the "SCREENSAVER" to new staff as part of an onboarding tour.
- One member of staff (senior or middle management, with an office) takes a liking to the SCREENSAVER. Correspondence with a peer this person's feeling that it is thrilling/special to think that each image you see on the anomaly will never be displayed again. Against protocol, mister dumbass has the item relocated to his own office.
- Incident record details mysterious and/or gruesome death of mister dumbass above. SCREENSAVER identified as likely culprit, but cause is unknown. Hypothesize that the anomaly represents or transmits a cognitohazard, suspect the deceased was influenced by a compulsion to display/view the anomaly. SCREENSAVER moved to larger containment facility, reclassified, designated for additional study/investigation into coercive influence.
- Further records detail how NAVIN (see other tab, "GHEE" for summary of related SCP tale) solves the riddle while analyzing the files offsite (at prior storage location, the minimum security site). Realizes that deceased mister dumbass had an interest in art, uncovers emails, reviews reports of various measurements and examinations by experts that show no signs of compulsive influence or innate cognitohazardous activity, and hypothesizes that it was purely the choice of the deceased to take the risk of viewing the SCREENSAVER. Maybe NAVIN uncovers some private notes/journal wherein deceased reflects on his own choice to break protocol, considers he could be under influence, but concludes there is really no harm and focuses on the wonder of the experience. Cause of death here has to be impossible to explain in the absence of anomalous activity (i.e., no heart attack/stroke ambiguity).
- NAVIN has to identify what actually killed mister dumbass, either with certainty or with high confidence. Here is where there is an opportunity to link to an existing SCP, a deadly cognitohazard that could be positively identified on the basis of how it kills—maybe the existing SCP chronologically is discovered after SCREENSAVER, and NAVIN comes across it in a queue, or maybe NAVIN finds it by searching obscure records. Alternatively, NAVIN could just come to the conclusion that SCREENSAVER likely displayed something similar to an existing SCP.
- Reclassification memo that explains the current state of the entry. Raises the possibility of SCREENSAVER some day displaying any of a number of highly dangerous cognitohazards (e.g., 571) as justification for more strict conprocs and retention at high security site. Recommendation to explore options for decommissioning, but goes at the bottom of the priority list due to ease of containment (memo or other correspondence should note that this likely means it'll never happen).
Find existing anomalies that could interact with SCREENSAVER
- Self-Propagating Infectious Pattern, the image that makes you draw it (and induce others to view it). This is good as an example of what SCREENSAVER could deliver (high end risk/danger). Not what kills mister dumbass though, because the compulsion to infect others would have sent him roaming the site; he should simply be found dead in his office in some circumstance that implicates SCREENSAVER.
- Stendhal's Nightmare, a "grey" oil painting that when directly viewed appears to be something else. Deadly but the effect seems inherent to the physical painting rather than to a particular image, so SCREENSAVER can't deliver it.
- TODO: Browse http://scp-wiki.wikidot.com/system:page-tags/tag/visual#pages for anomalies (prefer recent series) to expand this list.
GHEE is a working name for a pre-greenlight SCP tale. Intend to connect this tale to an SCP article to be drafted simultaneously, with the working name GHEE. Potential to reference existing SCP articles as well in the process of establishing MC's role on Foundation staff.
Characters:
- NAVIN - either agent or researcher, must have civilian background, works at either minimum security site or a non-containment facility (more freedom of activity). Born outside of the US, lived in US territory as a child (bilingual, high fluency AME, very slight accent), moved to California in elementary school, naturalized during college.
- PRAPTI - MTF member, friendly, has seen action at various sites and in the field but currently on rotation with her team at same site/facility, sort of an on-the-job shore leave since it's a relatively low-stress assignment. Born in the US to immigrant parents, recruited out of USAFA by Foundation.
Open with NAVIN cooking but prefer ambiguous, potentially off-putting terms like "fat" rather than "oil" to help convey the sense that something may be anomalous. Possibly also use Hindi names for ingredients? But this would only lend itself to that effect for an audience who doesn't recognize the terms and I don't want to write anything that could end up being construed as xenophobic.
NAVIN is working on some research or analysis of an assignment (here is a potential plate to either imply or link a particular SCP). He is not a novice at this job but not a veteran either. Maybe he has a breakthrough while cooking, something about the image of ghee melting might relate to his assignment, or maybe no real relation just happens to have a "eureka!" moment. Maybe weave in meditative/mindfulness aspect of cooking somehow, could be an opportunity to explore his cultural background.
Introduce PRAPTI when NAVIN brings his home cooked meal into a communal area. Familiar smell gets her attention, introduction, friendly conversation, the two hit it off. Although there are other SA staff on site, NAVIN and PRAPTI are similar age, similar place in their careers. PRAPTI uses the word "desi" in reference to their shared background, and NAVIN returns the conversation to the subject of food. Although NAVIN is South Asian, his family is not from India and don't consider themselves "desi" but any awkwardness here should be subtext so that the reader will not discover the reason for it until PRAPTI does, later on.
After this initial interaction, I need to develop the characters further; involve some peripheral characters as well, coworkers on NAVIN's project and/or PRAPTI's MTF unit. This story is about NAVIN and PRAPTI, their different roles at work, and how they relate to being part of a larger South Asian diaspora in the US. NAVIN's task working with SCREENSAVER (and maybe other anomalies) should help drive the plot, as he learns more about it and clarifies the nature of its activity and influence. NAVIN relishes his interactions with PRAPTI for the connection and shared experience, but also fears what he perceives as conflict between her military background and his civilian one, the differences between how they relate to their diaspora, her rough and risky field experience vs. the relative comfort of his position, and the knowledge that he will remain on site when her MTF rotates out. NAVIN dwells on these more than PRAPTI, and we start to see that NAVIN suffers from some unhappiness in his career, some anxiety about studying anomalies, rooted in a more general anxiety about putting his life into work at the expense of maintaining connections with family or pursuing intimacy/partnership. PRAPTI is not a serious romantic interest for NAVIN but her friendship still represents intimacy on some level, a taste of what NAVIN might be able to share with a romantic partner, though he feels he does not live in a world where that is even possible.
PRAPTI's unit ends up playing a prank on NAVIN. Reader should see this more through NAVIN's POV, not be aware what's going on until he figures it out. Hazing is more typical of MTF and military culture and NAVIN has no taste for it, plus he is more tightly strung than PRAPTI and company realize because he doesn't talk about his anxiety. NAVIN responds very poorly to the prank, and PRAPTI's unit leader is dismissive of him afterwards in conversation with PRAPTI, suggests he just "can't take it" because he's a civilian. PRAPTI and her team intended it more as a bonding opportunity - this is a kind of intimacy they are extending to him, the opportunity to participate in this ritual, the aspect of vulnerability it entails, the gift of being given a chance to be part of the MTF socially despite being a civilian. NAVIN's feelings of fear and betrayal mix with his growing anxiety about the implications of SCREENSAVER for his career choices and he lashes out at PRAPTI. He brings up PRAPTI calling him "desi," reveals to her (and now to the reader) that his family is from Nepal, rejects their shared identity within the diaspora and speaks critically of her being US-born. Make sure PRAPTI has admitted to sensitivity regarding this in one of their earlier interactions—e.g. referencing the term ABCD. Because he feels betrayed, he responds with this betrayal, and will regret it.
Setup for the prank: During some social interaction, PRAPTI or another MTF member starts smoking a cigarette, despite not being a smoker, behaves strangely when noticed. More than one person in on it, pretending to be infected with some cognitohazard that makes them act out tropes (think film noir), maybe point to some pulp novel as the alleged SCP. NAVIN takes the bait hook line and sinker and overreacts: "You brought a skip into my fucking house!?" PRAPTI wants him to "succeed" by embracing the prank culture and doesn't anticipate or understand his inability to "take it" but someone else (maybe her team leader) catches on more quickly that he's not going to laugh it off and pulls the plug. Cue NAVIN lashing out as described above.
NAVIN is angry principally at PRAPTI, not the rest of the team, because he doesn't feel any close friendship with the others so with them it's not a betrayal. PRAPTI is caught off guard, confused, annoyed, maybe a little upset but clings to her MTF culture and rebuffs his anger because she can "take it" and doesn't understand why he can't; in her world this ability to "take it", which is really rooted in the traumatic/abusive hazing culture, ends up being defined as a virtue or character strength, out of psychological self defense. The group separates.
PRAPTI learns not long after that NAVIN quit Foundation via an amnestic route with major long term consequences (gap in life, memory, network). MTF unit will rotate out to a more active duty assignment soon. MTF unit leader chewed out for hazing by on site CO, escapes discipline partly because of impending rotation. MTF leader bristles, challenges: "MY team, yadda yadda" Boss stands from behind his desk (macho face off bullshit), more calmly because he's got the power in their hierarchy, responds along the lines of: "MY superiors, YOUR ass."
End with a contrasting exchange between NAVIN and his direct report, memorialized - could be emails, or transcript of a pre-amnestic exit interview. Latter seems very in keeping with SCP flavor/conventions. More compassion between them, but maybe less camaraderie - the professional support NAVIN gets on the civilian side has a totally different feel from the MTF side, with advantages and disadvantages. Close with a stub of NAVIN's personnel file summarizing his tenure and outcomes, relatively impersonal but not devoid of sympathy. Try to imply that opportunities for social connection existed and NAVIN didn't take them. Will he do better with an amnestic restart - or will he lose out on valuable lessons by choosing to forget? Up in the air. But his choice should at least represent some degree of victory because his realization that the harms caused by SCREENSAVER came down to fundamentally consensual interactions motivated him to stop consenting to the career that brought him so much unhappiness.
Maybe try to work in some kind of communication/note to NAVIN post-exit. But a note from himself or from PRAPTI would certainly violate process, which is not likely in character for either of them to do. Possibly more of a "message from the universe" that hints at his ability to retain something from his experience despite the amnestics? TBD.
