SCP-XXXX "Life of the Party"

Item #: SCP-XXXX (Life of the Party)

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXX can safely be stored in a standard anomalous item locker. Following Incident-XXXX-03, SCP-XXXX is to be covered by a cloth sheet at all times and is only to be directly viewed by D-Class personnel during testing and documentation. Following a confirmed XXXX-MUSE event, D-Class personnel are to photograph the new iteration of SCP-XXXX and then be placed under observation for 24 hours. To prevent accidental exposure, SCP-XXXX is to be faced away from entryways and cameras at all times when uncovered. Suspected cases of accidental exposures are be treated with a 24 hour period of observed isolation or administration of a Class-A amnestic.

Description: SCP-XXXX is a 36 x 48” landscape portrait, no title or artist signature is present. Testing of the canvas, frame and paint confirm them to be made of non-anomalous material. In each recorded iteration to date, SCP-XXXX has depicted a formal party or other large social event with a singular figure, SCP-XXXX-1, being presented as the focus of the event.

SCP-XXXX-1 is an adult Caucasian male, estimated to be rough 60-70 years of age. In all iterations SCP-XXXX-1 is depicted with grey slicked back hair, bright blue eyes and wearing a white dinner jacket. SCP-XXXX-2 is a humanoid entity consistently portrayed to be “hovering” around the edge of the event occupying a role subservient to other individuals in the scene such as wait staff, bartender or background musician. SCP-XXXX-2’s is always portrayed with no facial details which is often obstructed by other individuals or objects in the scene.

All other individuals are identified as instances of SCP-XXXX-3. The same instances of SCP-XXXX-3 are present in each SCP-XXXX iteration, though individual dress, position and portrayed roles have been shown to change between XXXX-MUSE events. To date, there are fifty-nine instance of SCP-XXXX-3.

SCP-XXXX anomalous effect activates when viewed by an individual with a self-professed “artistic background”¹, hereafter referred to as the Subject. Upon viewing SCP-XXXX, the Subject will exhibit a heightened interest in the item, describing it to be of higher quality than other observers, and will express a desire to artistically recreate the scene. If provided with the necessary artistic tools the subject will begin to recreate the scene in its entirety in their own artistic style. If not provided with access to artistic supplies within 24 hours the desire will dissipate with the Subject stating they have “lost interest”. Administration of Class-A amnestic in this period will also cease the anomalous effect.

Upon the completion of any artistic works the Subject will regard it with noticeable dissatisfaction², and the effect will continue. Each new work will be modified to try and make up for perceived “problems” with the work. All subsequent works produced after this point will likewise be regarded with dissatisfaction. Each new work will retain the same or similar lavish setting with SCP-XXXX-1 prominently displayed. The presence of SCP-XXXX-3s will gradually decrease, at rate of 2-4 individuals per work, and the presence of SCP-XXXX-2 will gradually grow in prominence.

If prevented from continuing their work before they reach five or fewer SCP-XXXX-3 they will exhibit an increased level of agitation and anxiety about leaving their work “unfinished”. Within 48-72 hours Subjects will return to their normal baseline of behaviour present before exposure to SCP-XXXX. If not prevented at this point they will initiate a XXXX-MUSE event. Thereafter, SCP-XXXX-3 will be completely excluded from future works and SCP-XXXX-2 will be portrayed with increasing prominence in the scene, gradually replacing SCP-XXXX-1 as the focus of the work. After multiple attempts, a subject will produce a work solely dedicated to SCP-XXXX-3 to the complete exclusion of XXXX-1. At the point the subject will express satisfaction with the work, declaring that they have “captured the soul of the piece”.

Subjects will not produce any more works and will enter a docile state wherein they will act with little agency beyond self-preservation. After an indeterminate period of time all life signs in the Subject will suddenly cease. The Subject will then be portrayed in SCP-XXXX as a new instance of SCP-XXXX-3. In testing it has been shown that Subjects will not undergo this transference while SCP-XXXX is being observed. To date, the longest period a Subject has been kept in this state was eighty-three days before observation of SCP-XXXX was momentarily disrupted wherein the Subject immediately collapsed and expired.

All new instances of SCP-XXXX-3 will be added to the scene in as convenient way as possible with pre-existing instances adjusting themselves to accommodate them. When the scene reaches a point where-in it no longer seems possible to conveniently accommodate new instances, SCP-XXXX will restructure itself to portray a new scene with space enough to accommodate new instances. To date, no transformations have never been directly observed by personnel and have only been recorded after the fact. Under Foundation control, SCP-XXXX has undergo four recorded restructurings.

Incident-XXXX-03: Shortly following the first recorded restructuring of SCP-XXXX, Researcher Müller suddenly collapsed at her desk. Site medical staff were alerted but she was confirmed dead shortly after. Interviews with colleagues revealed Researcher Müller had professed herself to have once been an amateur cartoonist in high school. Several “doodles” of SCP-XXXX were found scattered amongst her research notes with SCP-XXXX-2 being the final completed drawing. Researcher Müller was later found to be a new instance of SCP-XXXX-3. This is first and only instance of a Researcher being a Subject of a XXXX-MUSE event and containments procedures have been updated accordingly.

Addendum 1: Testing has shown that photographs, prints and artistic creations of SCP-XXXX do not possess the same anomalous properties and are safe to view. Live digital feeds of SCP-XXXX have been shown to produce the anomalous effect but appears to be dependent on the quality of the live feed.

Addendum 2: Examples of SCP-XXXX iterations.

Iteration	No. of SCP-XXXX-3	Description
XXXX-I01	Twelve	Appearance of SCP-XXXX as it came under Foundation control. Scene is of an ornate poker table, with the table in the foreground and all individuals facing the viewer. SCP-XXXX-1 is at the centre of the group, seated at the table gesturing to the five cards laid before it. SCP-XXXX-3 instances fill the roles of other players or onlookers. SCP-XXXX-2 is behind the group, partially obscured by SCP-XXXX-3 instances. SCP-XXXX-1’s hand of cards consists of a straight flush and its pile of poker chips is notably larger than other players.
XXXX-I07	Eighteen	Six new D-Class have been added to the scene following XXXX-MUSE events. All have appeared at the back of the group, looking over the shoulders of previous instances. SCP-XXXX-2 has shifted to be behind the new instances.
XXXX-I10	Twenty-one	First recorded scene transformation. Scene has transformed into a bar, viewed from above and looking down the length of the bar at a slanted angle. XXXX-1 is portrayed near the front of the bar, raising a glass and seeming to lead the party in a toast. SCP-XXXX-2 is at the end of the bar, head bowed as it cleans a glass.
XXXX-I12	Twenty-three	Second transformation of SCP-XXXX. Scene has shifted to a long dinner table, view is from the front of the table from a high angle. SCP-XXXX-1 is seated at the head of the table, its hands are crossed before it as it smiles and surveys the assembled guests. SCP-XXXX-3 instances are either guests seated at the table or are staff taking food to and from the table. SCP-XXXX-2 is seen carrying a stack of dishes away from the table.
XXXX-I47	Fifty-nine	Fourth transformation of SCP-XXXX and current iteration. Scene has shifted to a stage, view is from the side of the stage facing a large open ballroom. SCP-XXXX-1 is on the stage, both hands raised to the audience. SCP-XXXX-3 make up the audience, seated at tables spaced around the hall and appear to be laughing and applauding. SCP-XXXX-2 is portrayed as pouring wine at one of the tables near the back of the scene.

Addendum 3: The following note was found folded under the frame of SCP-XXXX.

Dedicated to my dear friend Paul,

Always too busy, always overlooked, never had time to laugh and live. May he in death forever be the life of the party and I always knew he could be.

- An Anonymous Friend

Footnotes

1. “Artistic background” is subjective but has mostly consisted of individuals with professed artistic skill or advanced knowledge of or education in the visual arts.

2. Common remarks include “its missing something” or “it does not capture the right feel”