SCP-4489 - Apologies

Authored by Kain Pathos Crow, rewritten by djkaktus.

I wrote this as a rewrite of SCP-089-ARC. That article wasn't very good, so hopefully this is a little better.

Image Credits:

hobo.png is from here.

BY ORDER OF THE OVERSEER COUNCIL

The following file is Level 2/4489 Classified

Unauthorized access is forbidden.

4489

Item#: 4489

Containment Class: safe

Secondary Class: none

Disruption Class: vlam

Risk Class: caution

SCP-4489

Special Containment Procedures: SCP-4489 is contained within a low-security item locker at Site-81. Access to SCP-4489 is to be granted only with permission from the Site-81 research authority.

Description: SCP-4489 is a small, carved wooden statue of a cartoon hobo. Individuals exposed to SCP-4489 in close proximity will gradually begin to express feelings of guilt, often as a result of minor or non-existent slights they feel that they have somehow inflicted on those around them. Prolonged exposure to SCP-4489 often leads to such inflated feelings of guilt and regret that the subject becomes inconsolable or otherwise impossible to interact with until SCP-4489 is removed.

Subjects typically return to a baseline behavior after SCP-4489 has been removed, time depending on the length of time exposed.

Addendum 4489.1: Testing Log

For testing purposes, SCP-4489 was set on a table in the center of a standard testing chamber. Subjects were then exposed to SCP-4489 in various scenarios and for various lengths of time.

CONTROL Test Log 4489.1.0

Site-81

Description: SCP-4489 is set on a table in the middle of a testing chamber. D-91411 introduced to the testing chamber for a period of 5 minutes.

Outcome: D-91411 is removed from the chamber after 5 minutes. Subject apologizes for being such a boring test subject.

Test Log 4489.1.1

Site-81

Description: SCP-4489 is set on a table in the middle of a testing chamber. D-95641 introduced to the testing chamber for a period of 20 minutes.

Outcome: D-95641 is removed from the chamber after 20 minutes. D-95641 weeps openly upon extraction, stating that she "didn't mean to breathe so much in there but it just couldn't be helped".

Test Log 4489.1.2

Site-81

Description: SCP-4489 is set on a table in the middle of a testing chamber. D-98446 introduced to the testing chamber for a period of 1 hour.

Outcome: D-98446 must be physically removed from the chamber and is inconsolable for several hours afterwards. Once D-98446 is sufficiently calmed, he apologizes profusely for "having to pee so bad".

Test Log 4489.1.3

Site-81

Description: SCP-4489 is set on a table in the middle of a testing chamber. D-84544 and D-91101 introduced to the testing chamber for a period of 5 minutes.

TEST AUDIO RECORDING TRANSCRIPT

D-91101 and D-84544 enter containment chamber. After a few moments, SCP-4489 is brought into the chamber and sat on a table.

D-91101: So what now? We just sit here?

Dr. Brannaugh: Yep. You just sit there.

D-84544: Got it.

Eight seconds pass.

D-84544: Hey, buddy.

D-91101: Yeah guy?

D-84544: Look, I just wanted to apologize for getting all up in your space right now. I shouldn't be doing that.

Note: D-84544 and D-91101 are currently more than 3m apart.

D-91101: Oh, God, you don't need to apologize to me, man. I'm sorry for making you feel like you were in my space. You're not in my space; if anything, I'm in your space.

D-84544: No, oh man, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you didn't know what your space was, or whether I was in it, honestly. I hope you can forgive me, please.

D-91101: (Tears begin to form in the subject's eyes) Oh no, I can't believe I've done this to you. I can't believe I put you in a position where you felt like you needed to apologize to me for an implication that I misread. I'm so sorry pal, I didn't mean to hurt you this way. I'll get out of your space now.

D-91101 moves to the corner of the containment cell. D-84544 bursts into tears and collapses to the ground.

D-84544: (Through tears) No- I- I'm so- I'm so sorry you- you felt like- like you had to walk all that way just- just to satisfy my- my- my unreasonable space needs- I'm sorry- (sniff) Please for- forgive me. (Weeps openly)

D-91101: No! I'm sorry for what I've done to you! It was my actions that reduced you to this! I am to blame! I'm sorry!

D-84544: (Crawling to the opposite corner of the room) Wh-what? I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over- over the sound of- of- of my own distracting- sobbing.

D-91101: (Shouting and weeping) OH GOD PLEASE NO WHY DO I DO THIS TO PEOPLE, I'M SO SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCING YOU LIKE THIS BY NOT PROPERLY ARTICULATING. I'M SO SORRY.

D-84544: I'm- I'm sorry my- my ears are so- so- (sobs) so dysfunctional.

D-91101: I'M SORRY MY INADEQUACIES HAVE PUT THIS EAR DOUBT UPON YOU, YOUR EARS ARE FINE AND I AM AT FAULT FOR BEING SUCH AN OBNOXIOUS, INARTICULATE BUFFOON.

D-84544: It- it- it was my hideous visage that- that did this to you, please- (turns to face into the corner) please let me sp- spare you my horrible face. I'm s-s-sorry I am so hideous.

D-91101: PLEASE, PLEASE LET ME APOLOGIZE FOR SHOULDERING YOU WITH THIS INSURMOUNTABLE AND MISPLACED SELF-DOUBT. I AM THE ONE WITH THE HIDEOUS FACE. (Turns to face corner) PLEASE FORGIVE ME, MY SOUL CANNOT HANDLE THIS GREAT REGRET I FEEL FOR HARMING YOU IN THIS WAY.

D-84544: My entire life exists only to- to- to be a mockery of a just existence. (Inconsolable sobbing)

After an additional two minutes of D-84544 and D-91101 screaming apologies into the corners of the testing chamber, both subjects are removed and SCP-4489 is returned to storage.