Per 
Item #: SCP-XXXX
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX is to be kept in a standard containment locker on Site-15 approximately one (1) meter by one (1) meter by two point five (2.5) meters in a warehouse of containment staff’s choosing. Paper and ink should be provided on the first of every month. Should SCP-XXXX make any noise audible from outside of its locker, Dr. Hodler should be notified, open its locker, inspect the machine for damage or produced art, and replenish the machine's ink and paper. If the machine produces any caricatures, which seems unlikely due to recent events, they should be examined and, if the subject is of note, preserved in SCP-XXXX's file. Letters issued by SCP-XXXX are to be read, then acted upon at the discretion of Dr. Hodler.
Description: SCP-XXXX is a large box similar in design to fortune-telling automata popular in amusement parks and carnivals. Notable exceptions to this resemblance are as follows:
- The automaton within the glass portion of the machine holds a pen.
- The automaton is surrounded by drawing materials, with an ink well to its left and a sheet of 8.5x11 inch printer paper in front of it.
- There is text on the top of the box that reads “CARICATURES,” though in a similar font to that used by the aforementioned fortune-telling devices.
- The device does not need any external or visible power source to operate.
- There is a fracture in the glass portion of the machine on the left side.
In the device's natural state, a speaker will play various voice lines beckoning passerby to drop a quarter into the device’s coin slot to be drawn by “Austin, the Amazing Artistic Automaton!” These lines appear to be pre-recorded and of a finite quantity, as they repeat with relative frequency.
Previously, if a coin were to be inserted into the automaton's coin slot, regardless of denomination or currency, the machine would produce a sound akin to a giggle before asking the subject to "hold still" as the “hand” holding the pen moved back and forth wildly. Though the pen does not contact the paper while the machine is "drawing" and no visible lines are made, a drawing will be ejected from a slot in the front of the machine after a period of two to four minutes following the beginning of hand movement. In the past, these drawing would be a caricature of whoever inserted the coin, centered on the feature(s) the subject is most self-conscious about. However, due to recent events surrounding SCP-XXXX, the machine currently produces exclusively landscapes and still lifes, not caricatures.
Addendum 1: Recovery
SCP-XXXX was first identified as a possible anomaly when reviews for a traveling circus included descriptions of a malicious caricature machine that had knowledge of and drew caricatures centered around deeply personal issues that only the subjects were aware of. A field agent was dispatched to the scene and instructed to operate the machine. Upon insertion of the coin, the agent was issued a paper depicting him drunk in an alley. While the agent was sober at the time, he had previously been issued two citations for drunk driving and had a history of alcoholism. The agent classified the machine as an anomaly and moved to contain it, only to find that it had no external power supply. He attempted to purchase the machine from the carnival, which he accomplished with ease because it was widely believed that the machine was broken, as customers continually complained or broke down into tears after using it. The machine was successfully recovered from the carnival three hours later. The caricature of the agent, however, was not found. The agent claimed he incinerated it and, seeing as later caricatures proved to be non-anomalous, no further action was taken.
Addendum 2: Incident Log XXXX-1
Because the anomalous effects of SCP-XXXX only seemed to manifest if engaged with a coin, it was decided to contain the machine in a containment locker in Site-19. However, after significant time without interaction, the machine's anomalous properties began to increase. This included:
- Increasing volume of pre-recorded voice lines
- The emergence of new voice lines specific to the machine's situation such as:
- "It's dark in here! Brighten up your day with Austin, The Amazing Artistic Automaton!"
- "Allow Austin, The Amazing Artistic Automaton, to unlock your true self by unlocking Austin first!"
- "I may be bored, but you don't have to be, because you have Austin, The Amazing Artistic Automaton!"
- Banging itself against the walls of its locker to create noise
- Banging the automaton's pen against its glass case, creating a small fracture in the left side of the aforementioned case. This specific instance of self-damage is designated as incident XXXX-1
Conclusion: Due to the ability to damage and potentially destroy itself upon neglect, as demonstrated by incident XXXX-1, containment procedures have been amended to include monthly interaction by foundation staff. Experiments may be performed on SCP-XXXX during these interactions so long as they are approved by Dr. Hodler.
Test Log A - 10/12/19
Subject: SCP-XXXX
Procedure: Researcher Hodler is to insert one euro into the machine's coin slot.
Results:
11:48 - Researcher Hodler inserts the euro, as intended. The machine accepts the coin
11:48 - The machine instructs Dr. Hodler to hold still and plays a continuous loop of a voice line that Dr. Hodler later compared to giggling while the automaton's arms move about inside the machine's glass portion.
11:51 - A single drawing is produced and issued from a slot in the front of the machine. Dr. Hodler picks up the paper. The caricature is of Dr. Hodler, in bed with a microscope, presumably post-coitus. The microscope is holding a lit cigarette, and both the microscope. Dr. Holder chuckles, though facial analysis shows minute muscular movements consistent with the hiding of distress.
11:52 - The machine stops playing its giggling voice line and Dr. Hodler exists the testing chamber.
Analysis: The machine does take currencies other than quarters, but the number of caricatures is not affected by the value of currency deposited.
Addendum 3: Request Form XXXX-A
Requestee: Dr. Hodler
Issued to: Site director
Request: To gain full control over SCP-XXXX
Reasoning: I have taken an interest in SCP—XXXX. While it draws portraits, it giggles, which indicates to me that it feels pleasure in these drawings. Maybe I'm looking too far into it, but, to me, that indicates some level of sentience. That would explain both the "giggles" and self-destructive behavior after periods of disuse. It is for this reason I am requesting to be the sole researcher allowed to interact with SCP-XXXX. While unusual, I believe this step will create a relationship between me and the machine, if it is sentient, and thereby allow for greater understanding.
Response: Very well.
Outcome: Accepted.
Test Log B - 10/1/20
Subject: SCP-XXXX
Procedure: Researcher Hodler is to restrain the animatronic's hands prior to interacting with the machine.
Results:
16:06 - Dr. Hodler opens the glass case of SCP-XXXX
16:08 - Dr. Hodler finishes affixing the animatronic's hands to the surface they are typically suspended above via duct tape.
16:09 - Dr. Hodler activates the machine. The machine instructs Dr. Hodler to hold still and plays its "giggling" voice line as its arms struggle against their restraints.
16:12 - An image is issued from the machine's frontal slot. Dr. Hodler moves to pick it up but then stops, mumbling, "No. That's what that [inaudible] wants me to do."
16:13 - Dr. Hodler begins to walk away from the machine. The machine's giggles increase in volume and distort until the sound is more comparable to crying than giggling. 45 seconds after producing the drawing, the animatronic inside the machine breaks free of its bindings and thrashes about at its glass case. At one point, it strikes the area of its previous fracture and lengthens the fissure.
16:14 - Dr. Hodler picks up the paper hesitantly, but does not look at it. The animatronic continues to thrash. He looks at it briefly. On the paper is an image of Dr. Hodler, as a boy. He is inside, sitting at a computer consistent with the time period, with incredibly thick glasses resting on his face. In the background, there is a window, behind which several children are pointing and laughing. Dr. Hodler clenches his jaw and closes his eyes briefly and immediately the machine stops thrashing and its cries return to giggles.
16:15 - Dr. Hodler opens his eyes and leaves the testing area.
Analysis: The hands attached to the animatronic are not needed to create images. What's more, it seems that the machine does not issue the same caricature to the same person every time, but instead seems to grow more personal with each caricature1. In addition, it seemed Dr. Hodler's reluctance in examining the caricature demonstrated a new aspect of this anomaly: it requires validation in the form of negative emotion caused by its caricatures. It could be argued that this proves the device's sentience.
Test Log C - 12/1/20
Subject: SCP-XXXX
Procedure: SCP-XXXX is to be covered in a tarp so that no portion of the machine is visible, save the coin slot. This is to prevent the machine from "seeing" any individuals during its drawing process. A coin is then to be inserted by means of a Rube-Goldberg-esque device initiated by the ringing of an alarm clock.
Results:
12:00 - The alarm clock is set off.
12:01 - The coin enters the machine. The "giggling" voice line does not play.
12:05 - A page is issued from the machine. Dr. Hodler enters the testing chamber and examines it. It is a stylized question mark
Analysis: While this could be a pre-programmed response, Dr. Hodler insists that any response to such an event that is entirely unlikely in the machine's expected use case proves at least some level of intelligence.
Interview Log A - 13/1/20
Interviewed: SCP-XXXX
Interviewer: Dr. Hodler
Foreword: Following experiment XXXX-C, Dr. Hodler moved to interview SCP-XXXX to determine possible sentience. During the duration of the interview, SCP-XXXX is covered just as before to obscure its "vision." The activation device is primed to go off at 8:45.
<Begin Log, 8:41>
Dr. Hodler, hereafter referred to as Dr. H: Hello, SCP-XXXX.
SCP-XXXX, hereafter referred to as XXXX: Say 'Hello' to Austin, the Amazing Artistic Automaton!
Dr. H: Very well. I will show you respect if you show it to me. Hello, Austin.
XXXX: Say 'Hello' to Austin, the Amazing Artistic Automaton!
Dr. Hodler exhales audibly.
Dr. H: Hello Austin, the Amazing Artistic Automaton. In a few minutes, a coin is going to enter your coin slot. It will not be sent by me, nor anyone, for that matter. You therefore cannot draw a caricature. So, I'm going to ask you a couple of questions. I want you to answer the best you can through your voice lines, and if you can't, I want you to "draw" your answers, okay? If you cooperate, I can classify you as sentient, maybe get the foundation to throw a few amenities your way. But you have to help me before I can help you. That make sense?
XXXX: Austin can draw anyone! Just put in a coin and watch him go!
Dr. H: I'll take that as a yes. First things first, do you know who made you?
SCP-XXXX remains silent.
Dr. H: Alright, you don't have a voice line for that. That's fine, just draw the answer when you get the quarter. An address, a map, even landmarks near your creator's residence or workshop would be useful. Next: Are there any other machines like you?
SCP-XXXX remains silent.
Dr. H: That's fine, that's fine. Final-
The alarm clock suspending the quarter hits 8:45, setting off its alarm. The quarter is released and inserted into SCP-XXXX's coin slot.
Dr. H: Okay, final question, if you can take input while you're drawing: Why are your pictures so derogatory? Are you capable of drawing a complimentary caricature?
SCP-XXXX begins giggling and the arms of its internal automaton begin to wave back and forth, indicating that the machine is active and "drawing."
2 minutes and 52 seconds later, the machine issues a single sheet of paper. Dr. Hodler picks it up and examines it.
Dr. H (yelling, banging against the glass section of SCP-XXXX): You little [REDACTED]! I'll kill you! I'll [REDACTED] kill you! I was trying to help you, and you do this? You ungrateful [REDACTED]! I'll cut off your-
Dr. Hodler is seized by guards and dragged out of the room to avoid damage to SCP-XXXX. SCP-XXXX's "giggling" voice line is still audible as the door closes.
<End Log, 8:49>
Closing Statement: Upon review of the page issued by SCP-XXXX during this interview, it was found have a drawing of a meticulously stylized and shaded right hand with exclusively the middle finger extended to create the "middle finger" gesture. This image conclusively proves that SCP-XXXX is, in fact sentient. No alterations to containment procedures have been made.
Addendum 3: Request Form
Requestee: Dr. Hodler
Issued to: Site director
Request: To relinquish full control over SCP-XXXX
Reasoning: I fear that my continued contact with SCP-XXXX may result in physical damage to SCP-XXXX or mental damage to myself.
Response: Dr. Hodler has become an expert on SCP-XXXX. In fact, he is the one that discovered SCP-XXXX's sentience. He must be allowed continued contact with SCP-XXXX. Besides, SCP-XXXX is not believed to have any memetic effect. Simply control yourself, Dr. Hodler.
Outcome: Denied.
Test Log D - 10/2/20
Subject: SCP-XXXX
Procedure: The black pen attached to the animatronic arm of SCP-XXXX is to be replaced with a red pen.
Results:
17:14 - Dr. Hodler enters the testing area.
17:16 - The black pen is removed and the blue pen is affixed. Dr. Hodler asks if a D-class could activate the machine. Observing researchers inform him that a D-class is not allowed to operate the machine, as per the site director's orders. Dr. Hodler remarks that they are "as bad as the damned skip."
17:17 - Dr. Hodler activates SCP-XXXX. The machine activates its "giggling" voice line as the internal animatronic's arms move back and forth.
17:20 - A single drawing is produced and issued from a slot in the front of the machine which Dr. Hodler picks up, after instruction. *INSERT INSULT HERE, all drawn in red ink. In response, Dr. Hodler mumbles something inaudible.
17:21 - After being asked to repeat himself, Dr. Hodler clarifies that he asked the machine, "How would you like it if every one of your minute flaws was picked apart and meticulously stored in a manilla folder for the whole foundation to see." Upon completing his thought, Dr. Hodler's eyes widen, his pupils dilate, and he excuses himself from the testing area.
Analysis:
While the movements of the machine's arms are not necessary for drawing, the color of its pen affects the color of its drawings. Therefore, the caricatures are, at least in some way, influenced by the automaton, and are not produced in the internal mechanisms of the machine. In addition, it appears as though prolonged use of SCP-XXXX does have some psychological effect, as seen in Dr. Hodler's erratic behavior, though it is unclear whether this effect is anomalous in nature or simply a reaction to SCP-XXXX's work.
