A rendering of SCP-2883, created by Researcher Valencio after recovering from exposure

Item #: SCP-2883

Object Class: Euclid

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2883 is held in a small storage container manufactured out of opaque plastic. To avoid potential damage to SCP-2883, the container must be padded with standard packaging materials. During transport, SCP-2883 is to be kept in its container.

Staff in charge of conducting any experiments involving SCP-2883 must have immunity to its anomalous effect. Any personnel with vision properly obscured1 or previous exposure to SCP-2883 are considered immune to resultant cognitive failure and are thus permitted contact with SCP-2883 outside of testing conditions.

Any physical or digital copies of photographs depicting SCP-2883 must be incinerated or erased as necessary. Personnel and test subjects in contact with SCP-2883 that begin to exhibit symptoms associated with migraine, ischemia, or stroke must be treated as non-anomalous stroke patients until symptoms subside.

Description: SCP-2883 is an approximately 1.2 kg crystal comprised of 99.9% pure bismuth, resembling a member of the clade Avialae in both shape and size. It is capable of complex locomotion, and exhibits foraging behaviors similar to members of the taxonomic genus Aphelocoma (scrub jays), though it does not eat, and is unable to fly due to its density. It is relatively docile, and will not attack if handled. It is believed to be visually inhibited, as it has difficulty avoiding obstacles in its vicinity.

Visual observation of SCP-2883 causes contraction of cranial, anterial, and temporal arteries, significantly reducing blood flow to sections of the brain responsible for linguistic forms of communication, often resulting in severe migraines, difficulty reading and cerebral ischemia2. Prolonged observation of SCP-2883 will cause a temporary shutdown of these areas, though the lack of blood flow to this area does not appear to cause any permanent damage. Cessation of activity in these areas is counteracted by hyperactivity in the visual cortex. These dramatic changes in brain activity often cause subjects to experience hallucinations and seizures. Subjects in this state display symptoms similar to victims of stroke, but are still able to control all voluntary muscles, basic organ functions, and use symbol-based assisted-communication devices.

Subjects within this state cannot speak or write, though most subjects are capable of high-accuracy rendering of cognitive images through drawing. Drawings of SCP-2883 are not hazardous, thus this is the only known safe process of obtaining images of SCP-2883.

Within 48 hours, subjects suffering from the ischemic condition will recover. All portions of the brain will continue functioning normally, though there is often still an increased level of activity in the visual cortex. Subjects previously at high risk of stroke appear to show fewer signs of abnormal blood flow, though these subjects may occasionally relapse into an ischemic stroke state consistent with initial SCP-2883 exposure. The majority of fully recovered subjects experience no further ischemic effects upon viewing SCP-2883, though they are incapable of writing or speaking while observing SCP-2883. Recovered subjects appear to have heightened interest in creative activities, though often have increased difficulty comprehending written materials. Exact intensity of effects varies from subject to subject.

Treatment of subjects with class-B amnestics has proven ineffective in counteracting the effects of exposure, and may only be used after a subject's recovery to avoid devastating side effects including permanent hearing loss and brain damage.

Addendum 1:

Material Testing Log

Negative test results indicate material failure to prevent effects of SCP-2883 exposure.

Material
Testing Status
Result

Eyeglasses
Complete
Negative

Sunglasses
Complete
Negative

Camera Lens
Complete
Negative

Photographs
Complete
Negative*

Photographic Renderings
Complete
Positive*

Drawings/visual Recreations
Complete
Positive*

Infrared Imaging
Complete
Positive

Eyelid (closed eyes)
Complete
Positive

Cotton Fabric
Complete
Positive*

Polycarbonate Welding Lens
Complete
Positive*3

Translucent Latex (red)
Incomplete
N/A

SCP-███-3
Permission rejected
N/A

SCP-███-4
Pending approval
N/A

*in majority of tests

Addendum 2:

SCP-2883 was discovered after multiple curators at the ███ ██ █████ Art Gallery in San Francisco were hospitalized for stroke-like symptoms while setting up for an exhibition. Other curators began complaining of severe migraines when attempting to set up pieces for display. Foundation agents began to investigate after 5 more stroke cases on the first night of the exhibition. A team of MTF Eta-10 agents were dispatched to locate the anomaly, though several agents were incapacitated after prolonged visual contact with SCP-2883. Affected non-Foundation personnel and gallery patrons were given class B amnestics.4 A cover story regarding the presence of a volatile chemical solvent was used to explain the incident.

Further investigation into the origins of SCP-2883 found the following description printed onto a display sticker on a curator's desk:

ProtoBird

Miranda Trushea

Wax molded bismuth with patina.

For those who've forgotten creativity.

Investigation showed no documentation of any artist or individual known as Miranda Trushea. Records suggest the name may be a pseudonym. Interviews with curators not affected by SCP-2883 implied that it had been intended for part of the exhibition, as several other works by Miranda Trushea were listed on the exhibition inventory sheet. No sign of the actual pieces could be found, though a description was found for one other Trushea piece:

One More Word

Miranda Trushea

adhesive notes, ink.

For those who've forgotten humanity.

Footnotes

1. See Addendum 1

2. Cerebral ischemia is a condition characterized by reduced blood flow to the brain, often resulting in brain damage and strokes.

3. Though not completely effective, polycarbonate lenses greatly reduce the effects of exposure.

4. Lack of amnestic testing on the effects of SCP-2883 lead several of the civilians treated to suffer from permanent damage to the Broca's region of the brain, rendering them incapable of speech. Others who recovered became fully or partially deaf.