Joskjoch

Item #: SCP-4XXX

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4XXX is to be placed face-down in a small locked box located in site-07. This box is to be kept isolated in a small room accessible only to personnel with level 2 clearance or higher. Only D-class subjects are permitted to view SCP-4XXX. Any personnel who have worked with SCP-4XXX are to be demoted or terminated as appropriate. Demotion or termination of any personnel that have interacted with SCP-4XXX must be approved by unanimous vote of the O5-council, as per explicit instruction of the ethics committee. Any observers of SCP-4XXX that describe seeing senior staff or a member of the O5-council in the portrait are to be given class C amnestics.

Description: SCP-4XXX is a blank canvas with an ornate, gold frame that appears to any observers as a family-style portrait of the observer and the observer’s authority figures they would most like to impress. These figures can be current or former, and often include legal guardians, other family members, or superiors. Observers of SCP-4XXX can see anywhere from two figures to six figures, including themselves. Observers have no memory of such a photo being taken, and the photo will often display people who have never met each other. In rare instances, observers will see senior staff or members of the O5 council that they have never met before. When a photo or video is viewed of SCP-4XXX, this effect does not occur.

After approximately 5 minutes of viewing, observers of SCP-4XXX exhibit extreme levels of incompetence and poor decision-making any authority figures or peers admired by observers, such as family, coworkers, or superiors, view any and all actions of the observers as disappointments. This effect gradually amplifies with greater exposure. Subject viewing SCP-4XXX can often be completely ostracized within their friend groups or workplace. However, the competence and intelligence of those affected do not drop in reality. As a result, observers become incredibly obsessive and desperate in their desire to appease the expectations of those disappointed in them. Observers of SCP-4XXX often commit suicide, and upon expiration, the effects immediately cease.

Discovery: SCP-4XXX was recovered from a highly successful branch of ███ bank in ██████████, Indiana. Anamolous activity was suspected after a large string of local suicides, including the former owner. Personnel discovered the following note after a search of the bank.

+ Transcript

”im sorry dad. if i had to tell you anything, it would be that im sorry. my entire life, youve been there for me. youve been everything i couldnt be and everything i wanted to be. i cant be happy unless i make you proud, and i dont i can again. im sorry that im such a failure to you and to everyone else i know. every day, after work i would look at that picture of you and mom and ██████ and i would say to myself that id do it tomorrow. i would make you proud tomorrow. i would fix everything tomorrow. i would change myself tomorrow. it never worked. every day, i would wake up and things would be worse. every day you seemed to hate me more and more, and i dont want everyone i love to hate me anymore. i know this will just make it worse. you always told me that suicide was a cowards way out, so now im just a coward and a dissapointment. but the pain has to stop. the pain has to stop.

Always love, ████”

Local law enforcement cooperated with the foundation in blaming the string of suicides on abusive tendencies of the owner. Any known observers of the photograph were given class B amnestics.

Addendum 1: After preliminary testing, all viewers of the portrait exhibit egregious incompetence, and no longer serve any purpose at the foundation in any administrative or field position. Actions such as administration of class A amnestics, transfer to D-class, or termination will be delivered to any test subjects of SCP-4XXX as appropriate.

“After working with those affected by SCP-4XXX, I can not allow them to perform work at the foundation in any capacity, even use as D-class subjects. The risk of a containment breach because of their incompetence and potential misuse of classified data is too severe to have them remain personnel for any length of time. I recommend that they be terminated immediately.“-Researcher Montgomery

Addendum 2: Following review from the ethics committee, the unprofessionalism of Researcher Montgomery has been attributed to the effects of SCP-4XXX. As a result, he was delivered class B amnestics and transferred to another site. Any personnel demoted or transferred to D-class have been given class B amnestics and have had rank restored. Because of the permanent nature of SCP-4XXX’s effects, many of the more severe victims have been given class-A amnestics and granted civilian status.