Dr Elias Tavitian - Aether Mall

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Foreword: This document is for O5 Council Members and Staff with Special Privileges only. If you have discovered this document by accident, report immediately to your nearest security station for amnestic application. If you do not comply with the aforementioned order, the system will automatically flag you for termination.

Item #: SCP-XXXX

Object Class: Thaumiel

Special Containment Procedures: Due to the immobility of SCP-XXXX, area-XXXX has been erected around its perimeter. Area-XXXX consists of the parking lot around SCP-XXXX, and the empty lot behind it. No one is permitted entry into area-XXXX or SCP-XXXX without in-person oversight from O5-1.

Area-XXXX was constructed to maintain site containment from the public or other GOI’s, including Foundation personnel. It is a five (5) meter thick concrete dome with supporting reinforced steel tri-beams throughout the concrete. It was constructed using unmanned drones.

The local population have been successfully administered Class C amnestics, with their memories of SCP-XXXX being replaced by a story that a nearby nuclear reactor had gone critical, and that the concrete dome is to prevent radiation from leaking.

Testing is limited to O5-1 Approval.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a large shopping mall that appears to be from the 1960’s to modern times, expressing characteristics of the most famous malls of North America. The parking lot is quite large, and holds no anomalous properties.

SCP-XXXX is three stories high, and includes a basement level. There is no reliable floor-plan of SCP-XXXX as it frequently fluctuates between three states: Placid, Lucid, and Terminal. Even with those states disregarded, any attempt to draw up a floor-plan would result in a significantly more convoluted Penrose-esque illustration.

Inside are the typical stores, kiosks, booths, food courts, and other areas one would expect in a shopping mall, though frequently modified due to the changing states. Some of those discovered are outlined below, as are the three (3) states that SCP-5842 frequently cycles through.

There are other SCP’s contained within the mall, including SCP’s reminiscent of ones that in Foundation Custody or encountered by Foundation personnel. Among them is a janitorial staff inhabiting SCP-XXXX, hereby referred to as SCP-XXXX-1. SCP-XXXX-1 all seem to be the same elderly Caucasian male, though with different minor physical characteristics (hair length, beards, scars, etc…). They also have different personalities. Their name-tags are faded beyond recognition, and they will not offer their name.
It should be noted that when asked about the exit, they will either not offer a related answer, simply point to the storefront, or say that the exit is the same way the subject entered. Upon further inquiry, they become agitated and in some cases will begin to demand answers to the same questions the subject has asked. Leaving their store will cause them to ‘reset’, so to speak. They are non-violent beyond what normal human interaction would elicit a violent response; nevertheless, caution is advised when interacting with any instances of SCP-XXXX-1.

Decrepit generators can be found in utility rooms throughout SCP-XXXX, their purpose depending on the specific generators. Some create localized spaces of one of the States, some simply generate power, and still others have as of yet unknown effects. Any manufacturer markings have since faded.

Music perpetually plays throughout SCP-XXXX. Attempts to find the source(s) of the music have failed. It seems to be absent during the Lucid state, where it will sometimes fade in and out. It is unclear if this is environmental, or psychological. It is severely altered during the Terminal state.

Additional Information:
The three (3) states that the mall cycles through vary in severity with regards to the changes that result, without regards to the usual changes that frequently happen to the state of the areas in the mall.

State 1: Placid. This state is when the mall is at its most ‘normal’. Corridors and hallways still twist in on themselves, and stairs lead to impossibly endless upper floors and lower basement. It should be noted that there is no accessible second floor except in the Food Courts, however the third floor is accessible via the aforementioned stairwells.

State 2: Lucid. This is when the mall is agitated. An individual within the mall will experience auditory and visual hallucinations of people and storefronts from various decades, as though the mall was once busy. Whether these hallucinations are a product of SCP-XXXX telepathically manipulating the subject, SCP-XXXX projecting and generating the images and sounds, or if these hallucinations are simply the result of severe isolation and paranoia on the part of the subject are unknown.

State 3: Terminal. There is no consistency with anything in SCP-XXXX. The Third floor may be on the Ground Floor, the walls may switch to a storefront, or just become rotting, putrid flesh. Colors become mismatched, you start to taste tactile feelings, hear smells. More areas become Dark Zones; places with no light that are typically only in utility corridors. These zones are populated with SCP-XXXX-2; beings reminiscent of https://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-017, though due to their inherent obscurity, it is unknown if there is any relation between the entities.

List of locations inside the store, split up by sections.
Food Courts: Each food court is named.

+ Expand

The J████ A███████ Food Court: This is the largest food court, and though SCP-XXXX is a veritable infinite world, this location always feels to be at the center of it all. One will often find themselves looping back to it. It is a large atrium, with food stores on the ground floor and specialty stores, such as coffee or pastry shops, on the second floor. The ground floor is filled with seating, and on the walkway on the second level is a similar setup, just along the inner perimeter of the second level.
None of the restaurants or stores are chains found outside of SCP-XXXX, and most seem to be fast food restaurants. Something to note is that the restaurants all seem to be in operation: steam still rises off of the deep fryers, the ovens are warm to the touch, etc…
Keep in mind that as states change this area will look different; it could be decrepit and unused, or some of the appliances could be alive.

The A█████ J██████ Food Court: A small food court that holds specialty restaurants that serve North and South Carolinian food from the early 1800s. It otherwise shares characteristics with the J████ A███████ Food Court.

The J███ D. R██████████ Food Court: Another small food court that holds specialty restaurants that serve New York food from the early 1800s. It includes a broken Automated Teller Machine (ATM), though it looks to be constructed using clockwork technology. It does not dispense money as expected, but instead [Data Expunged]. Its use is not recommended.

Stores: Most are closed off, their signage either absent (in Placated state) or damaged beyond recognition (Intermittent in Lucid, Always Present in Terminal). Below is listed the accessible stores discovered. It should also be noted that the store’s shelves are void of items in the Placid State.

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Smokey’s Bargain Cave: A store that claims to sell outdoors products at a lower price than one might find anywhere else. The entryway is flanked by large tusks that reach up from the ground like pillars, and the store is carved out of real stone.
There are gun racks behind the counter, and glass showcases built into the counter. A corner claims to hold tents that will automatically regulate internal climate conditions for perfect comfort. All the pictures of them had them in red. There were otherwise spaces for portable coolers that keep food and drinks at the perfect temperature without any need for customer input, canned food that lasts forever and is always fresh, and other similar products. The most prominent feature of this store is the life-like bear at the front which has been reported to watch subjects who pass nearby. It is unknown if the bear actually watches the subject, or if this is a psychological effect of isolation.
Behind the ‘Employees Only’ door is a forested area of unknown acreage or origin, and has not been fully explored.
The SCP-XXXX-1 of this store acts much like a pleasant woodsman; friendly, but rough around the edges. He has a full beard, and what he describes as a bear-claw scar across his face.

Aphrodite’s Garments: A women’s adult clothing store. It is supposed to carry women’s lingerie, revealing dresses, low-cut tops, short skirts, and other such clothing, all with varying levels of effect on subjects. The entryway is shaped like a heart, and there are many cupids, and other representations of sex gods and idols throughout the store, including posters of models wearing the aforementioned clothing. The models have not been identified. The aesthetics are otherwise influenced by ancient Greek architecture.
The store claims that their clothing will enrapture any man, or homosexual woman, that sees the wearer in those clothes. There are changing rooms, and in front of them are the skeletons of two males and one female, their feet in boots welded to the floor, and hands chained to the wall. A transcription of the sign above the skeletons is available below.

'Attention
These employees are here to ensure you know that your Aphrodite’s Garment works as intended. They have consented to be restrained for your safety and theirs, as the results of the products can be quite potent. Disregard anything they say to the contrary, as it may be an attempt to get free so they can enact their desires.'

It should be noted that the ‘Employees Only’ door was originally locked, but upon forcing it open [Data Expunged].
The SCP-5842-1 in this store has long hair and a clean shaven face. It looks more feminine than the others, but still clearly a biological male. It is very flamboyant, and speaks in a very sensual way. It offers to show subjects to the change rooms; it is strongly recommended that this offer is declined.

Jimmy’s Toy Shop: a children’s toy store. It is supposed to carry a variety of children’s toys, ranging from building blocks to remote control cars. Its entryway is made up of scaled up building blocks, and the walls look to be made of the same material.
A sign depicts a remote control helicopter that flies itself. It boasts a full metal body, and the ability to fly as high as a life-size helicopter. It states that the blades have enough strength to cut clean through bone.
A stuffed teddy bear, circa 1950’s, is also advertised. This is reminiscent of http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-1048. It claims that it learns how to comfort each individual child it interacts with. It also claims that it must be cleaned as one would a pet, or else it will cease to work and begin rotting.
The ‘Employees Only’ door leads to an unremarkable break room and storage room.
The SCP-XXXX-1 is very grandfatherly. Kind, and treats the subject like a grandchild. Do not accept offers to sit on its knee.

Carmen’s Creative Corner: A creative projects store. It sells knitting and sewing supplies, sketchbook supplies, scrapbook supplies, and more. It’s entryway has two pillars designed to look like knitting needles, and the walls are painted in pastoral themes.
The colors are all titled in ways related to the human body: entrails red, pupil black, bone white, et cetera.
A sign advertises a sketchbook where the drawings come to life and depicts the drawings coming off of the page. It is unclear as to whether or not the drawings would actually come off the page, or if this is for promotional purposes.
The ‘Employees Only’ door leads to [Data Expunged].
The SCP-XXXX-1 is clean shaven, with its hair done up. It has a friendly demeanour, and offers to show the subject its artwork. Viewing the artwork is discouraged; but if it is viewed, reply with compliments, and then excuse oneself and immediately leave the store.]

Interviewed: O5-1

Interviewer: O5-█

Foreword: Interview O5-1 and his actions regarding SCP-XXXX

<Begin Log, ██/██/████>

O5-█: So, 1, tell us how you came across SCP-XXXX.

O5-1 One of our agents, ███ ████████ was working as a state building inspector in ████████████, ████. He was contracted to check out a nearby mall outside of the city’s limits. He sent in some hired muscle to clear out any possible squatters or animals before he inspected the structural integrity. None of them came back out, and didn’t respond to any form of communication. Assuming something was wrong, he went in himself.
O5-1 pauses.

O5-█: Continue.
O5-1: Well, he eventually managed to find his way back out of the mall. He gave his report to Dr. ████, who brought it to my attention.
O5-█: Why did Dr. ████ take it to you directly?
O5-1: Because Agent ████████ mentioned something that brought up a red flag. When he finally found the exit, on the interior side of the door was a wrap that said ‘A███████ Distribution Site 19’, and the main food court was named for J████ A███████. Considering the implications, I decided to investigate it myself. I noticed that the area around SCP-5842 was distorting, which Agent ████████ hadn’t mentioned beforehand. So I ordered him and Dr. ████ to be administered Class C amnestics based on a hunch. The distortions shrank. So, I ordered that the nearby town of ████████████ to be given the same treatment, and established the Nuclear Reactor meltdown cover story and established Area-XXXX.

O5-█: So it was an Info-Hazard?
O5-1: That's what I thought at first. Turns out it was just convenient timing with the fluctuations of the mall's three states.
O5-█: What happened next?
O5-1: Recognizing the perceived dangers of too many people knowing about SCP-XXXX, I went in myself. After all, I have the most experience with A███████ related products. I explored as much of SCP-XXXX as I could. It took me longer to get out than I expected, as the floor layout had changed since Agent ████████ had gone through it.
O5-█: And you did all of this without consulting the council.
O5-1: I wasn't aware that I had to consult with you every time I want to contain an SCP. Kind of our job description, isn't it? The only reason I have brought this to all of you is so that we can reclassify SCP-XXXX to Thaumiel in so order to contain appropriate SCPs that we are otherwise unable to contain. I also ask for sole knowledge of this particular SCP to minimize the chances of mistakes regarding its handling.
O5-█: You're insane if you think we want to forget this one. There are too many potential SCPs inside of it for us to even consider giving you that privilege.
O5-1: And I think that there are too many there for any more than one person with the sole desire of containment, with little to no testing beyond what's absolutely necessary, to know.
O5-██: I agree with 1. I vote this interview to be over, and that we vote on the reclassification of SCP-XXXX, and that all of us but 1 take Amnestics regarding SCP-XXXX.
<End Log>

Closing Statement: The O5 council took a vote on the issues presented. Ending the Interview: Seven (7) for, Six (6) against. Majority ruled. Interview ended. Reclassification of SCP-XXXX: Eight (8) for, Five (5) against. Majority ruled. SCP-XXXX was reclassified to Thaumiel. Council, excluding O5-1, is to be administered Amnestics: Five (5) for, Four (4) against, Three (3) Abstained. Majority Ruled. O5 Council is administered Class C Amnestics, excluding O5-1.

Afterword: Please refrain from reading the document again after exposure to the following Amnestic Memetic device.

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