The mass of the container is to be monitored electronically. 
Changes in mass that are not accounted for by removal or return of 
samples will result in an automatic lockdown of that section of 
Site-19, as this indicates that a breach of the container may have 
occurred. 


Unless provided Level 4 approval, researchers are not to expose 
SCP-357 to temperatures exceeding 100°C. The amount exposed to 
these temperatures is never to be greater than 1 mm3, under any 
circumstances. 


Description: SCP-357 is a malleable substance with a density of 
250 kg/m3. The material has been found to reflect all radiation with 
100% efficiency. To date, chemical analysis of SCP-357 has yielded 
no conclusive results. Electron microscopy of SCP-357 has shown 
no inherent granularity at any level. These two latter results suggest 
that SCP-357 may not be atomic in nature; however, there have 
been no satisfactory hypotheses as to how baryonic matter is able to 
interact with it. 


When permitted to physically interact with SCP-357, researchers 
describe it as having a consistency similar to that of Play-Doh brand 
modeling compound. However, unlike Play-Doh, SCP-357 will not 


SCP-2980: Devil's Nightlight 


Item #: SCP-2980 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2980 is to be contained in 
a standard item locker at Site-81. SCP-2980 may only be 
removed from storage for testing. 


Description: SCP-2980 is a nondescript incandescent lightbulb of 
unknown make, situated on top of a standard plastic 125v wall 
adapter plug. The bulb itself is clear, with a standard filament and 
wiring system. The mounting bracket is red in color, with a "smiley 
face" logo on both sides and a small black on/off switch on the front. 


When SCP-2980 is plugged into a standard 125v wall socket and 
turned on, regardless of whether or not the socket is currently 
receiving power, and when the local time reaches 2030 hours, 
SCP-2980 will power on and emit a red light. Any other lights in the 
room remaining powered at 2030 hours will dim quickly, until the 
only source of lighting is SCP-2980. 


Upon SCP-2980 turning on, a Class V Corporeal Humanoid Entity, 
designated SCP-2980-1, will materialize somewhere in the room 
containing SCP-2980. SCP-2980-1 appears as a large, hoofed, 
bipedal creature, with dark red skin and curled horns. Outside of 
these characteristics, SCP-2980-1 appears otherwise human, with 
human facial features and a human torso and arms. 


For 15-30 minutes after appearing, SCP-2980-1 will proceed to read 
a story or collection of short stories to anyone nearby. SCP-2980-1 
will read out of a small, black book with a leather binding and 
parchment pages. Notably, SCP-2980-1 will wear a pair of 
spectacles during the reading. Upon reaching the end of the tale, or 
if subjects listening to SCP-2980-1's reading fall asleep, 
SCP-2980-1 will dematerialize. SCP-2980 will remain on until 


powered off. Individuals who listen to the entirety of SCP-2980-1's 
story will invariably fall asleep at its conclusion, and awaken roughly 
9 hours later. Subjects universally claim to feel well rested 
afterwards. 


+ Interview with SCP-2980-1 


On // , Dr. Randall entered SCP-2980's testing 
chamber, interrupting SCP-2980-1's story ("The Tired 
Little Eldritch Abomination") and requesting an interview. 
SCP-2980-1 was eager to oblige, and the following 
interview took place. 


Dr. Randall: SCP-2980-1, thank you for sitting 
down with me. Can you tell me more about 
what caused you to be here? 


SCP-2980-1: Well doctor, | think | just got tired 
of doing the same old thing all the time, you 
know? | mean, everybody sort of gets it in their 
head that it's some easy thing to torture and 
damn people for an eternity, but it really starts 
to wear on you after a while. Besides, for the 
last thousand years or so I'd really been 
wanting to take my writing on the road, right? 
Get out there and see my people. So a few 
months ago | loaded up my things, and well, 
here | am. 


Dr. Randall: | see. So the stories, they're all 
original? 


SCP-2980-1: Oh absolutely. A lot of it is drawn 
from personal experiences, stuff | encounter 
on a day to day basis. Pretty personal, you 
know. | also dabble in a lot of different works. 
Read a lot of different stuff by different 
authors. Really try and widen my horizons, 
right? Get a good feel of what the kids are 
reading nowadays. 


Dr. Randall: Of course, of course. Now, you 
mention children. SCP-2980 was originally 
discovered in an orphanage. Any reason in 
particular why it would've ended up there? 


SCP-2980-1: You know, with the kids, it's 
really all about giving back, right? | just feel 
like I've lived my whole existence and not 
really ever had a chance to make a difference 
in somebody's life. | figured, if | can help some 
kid rest easier at night, that's gotta count for 
something. Gotta make every day count. 
Leave the world a better place than when you 
found it. 


Dr. Randall: Mmhmm. Is there anything else 
you'd like to add, SCP-2980-1? 


SCP-2980-1: Sure. I've got a collection of 
bedtime stories for children coming out next 
spring. Really solid stuff, | mean, who am | to 
say anything about my own work, right? 
(Laughs) But seriously, the reviews are great. 
Check it out, definitely worth your time. 
Proceeds all go to the Xlan'gthmr R'llnmerg 
Foundation for Underprivileged Youth. Really 
great cause. 


Addendum 2980-A: Sample of SCP-2980-1 Stories 


The following is a short sample of stories read by SCP-2980-1 
during containment. 


The Little Demon Space Cadet 

Story depicts a small demon who dreams of going to 
space. Small demon constructs a spaceship out of 
human bones, and uses it to fly to the moon. 


Sleepy Time With GROG THE UNSPEAKABLE 
Story depicts the main character, GROG THE 


UNSPEAKABLE, trying to find a suitable location to 
begin his millennium-long slumber. It is mentioned many 
times throughout that GROG is sleepy. 


Bedtime for Baby Beelzebub 

Story depicts the infant incarnation of the Lord of Flies 
being prepared for slumber by a large, insectine 
creature. Story ends with Baby Beelzebub being covered 
up by a blanket made of damned human souls, and 
falling asleep to the screams of the stricken. 


[REDACTED] 

Story contained sensitive information about SCP- 

When questioned, SCP-2980-1 maintained that it was an 
original work of fiction. 


Damnbi 

Story depicts a young deer who, disturbed emotionally 
by the death of its mother, signs a deal with a demon 
and goes on a murderous rampage after being twisted 
into an unholy form and falling from the sky. Story ends 
with Damnbi falling asleep amongst the corpses of its 
foes after exacting its vengeance. 


+ Addendum 2980-B 


During routine testing on / / , SCP-2980-1 told a story 
entitled "The Little Monstrosity's Early Bedtime", 
depicting a [DATA EXPUNGED] going on an adventure 
to get home so it could be reunited with its mother and 
"countless waiting brethren". Shortly thereafter, Site 
experienced a breach of SCP-__, which caused 
casualties and [DATA EXPUNGED] disappeared. Due to 
the similarities between SCP- and the creature in 
SCP-2980-1's story, Dr. Randall was called in to 
question SCP-2980-1. SCP-2980-1 responded that 
"Well, | mean, you write what you know, right? I've been 
thinking for a while, and really think I'm ready to take my 
writing in a new direction. You can't please everybody, 
though, but sometimes you hit one out of the park. That's 
why we do it, you know? Write, | mean. It's all about 


pleasing an audience." 


« SCP-2979 | SCP-2980 | SCP-2981 » 


SCP-2981: Mashed Potatoes Can Be Your Friend 


Item #: SCP-2981 
Object Class: Safe 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-2981 is to be contained at 
Site-19 in a freezer located in containment area 14A. To prevent 
spoilage, fresh mashed potatoes are to be placed in the freezer 
alongside SCP-2981. Following a period of 4 days, SCP-2981's 
container should be emptied of its contents and cleaned before 
replacement. Personnel carrying out this process are not allowed to 
leave the containment area with SCP-2981 and/or the mashed 
potatoes. 


Description: SCP-2981 is a 4.8 kilogram mass of mashed potatoes 
displaying a cognitohazardous effect in which affected individuals! 
perceive SCP-2981 as being a living person. When confronted by 
another individual on the subject of SCP-2981 in conversation or 
prolonged physical contact, this effect abruptly ceases its effect 
upon the affected individual and begins to affect the other 
individual2. This effect has not been observed affecting more than 
three individuals at a time. 


Proximity3 of non-anomalous potatoes to SCP-2981 causes 
SCP-2981 to effectively spread, causing the potatoes to become a 
part of SCP-29814. 


Discovery: SCP-2981 was first noticed on University where 
missing person flyers were discovered around the Campus, 
seeking out an individual named "Alan ". No identifying 
information or photograph was attached. Campus security tracked 
the flyers to an assistant professor, Yuan _ . Upon interview, Mrs. 
claimed to have no knowledge of an "Alan ". Several days 
later, Mrs. contacted campus security, claiming to have located 
"Alan's remains". Security were directed to a lounge, and SCP-2981 
was located and identified. Mrs. abruptly left the scene, leaving 


security to contact local police to report a potential homicide. 


Officers on the scene could not find the alleged suspect, and a 
security guard, Mr. Shockley, took SCP-2981 with him home. At this 
point, SCP-2981 could not be accounted for until 19:00, at which 
point a student having dinner at the campus cafeteria was verbally 
assaulted by another student. The altercation led to the student, Ms. 
Payne, fleeing the scene with a bowl containing a new instance of 
SCP-2981. 


At 03:06 the next day, Ms. Payne brought SCP-2981 to the clinic, 
claiming it to be "unresponsive" and "bleeding profusely". Ms. Payne 
had to be restrained as she became belligerent when separated 
from SCP-2981. SCP-2981 was then acquired by a nurse, who 
brought it to tend to a patient. Hospital staff questioned the nurse, 
Mr. Paulson, who maintained SCP-2981 to be a visiting friend, and 
apologized for allowing them to visit a patient. Mr. Paulson did not 
resist being separated from SCP-2981. 


At 14:21, police were called to respond to a suspicious persons 
report filed by a patient, Ms. Joyce, who claimed SCP-2981 to be 
eavesdropping and spying on the woman as she changed. Officers 
on the scene identified SCP-2981 as [REDACTED] and placed it 
under arrest. 


The incident was brought to the Foundation's attention following a 
brief altercation at the local police department which escalated into a 
pursuit on foot, as Officer © Jackson made off with SCP-2981, 
believing it to be a cancer-stricken relative named "Jean". Officer 
Jackson made his way across campus, heading for the clinic, before 
losing consciousness and dropping SCP-2981. SCP-2981 was 
largely recovered intact. 


As Officer Jackson retained SCP-2981's effects throughout the 
incident and his subsequent detention and interview by Foundation 
personnel, it was not initially believed to be a cognitohazard. 


Transcript of interview between Dr. Marlowe and Officer 
Jackson. 


<Begin Log 15 minutes in, 21:04:48> 


Dr. Marlowe: How long did it take for you to realize they 
had taken "Jean" into custody? 


Jackson: Right away. They were carrying her in, 
unconscious, said she was under arrest for potential 
homicide. | checked her pulse. She was bleeding, but 
still alive. | said she was unconscious and needed to get 
to a hospital. They didn't believe me, and one of the guys 
was saying she wasn't even human, but a big bowl of 
potato salad or something. Everyone was yelling, it was 
a madhouse. 


Dr. Marlowe: And then what happened? 


Jackson: She started moving. Officer then stuck his 
fingers in her mouth, | don't know what he was thinking, 
so | shoved him aside. We got into a bit of a fight. 


Dr. Marlowe: How many other officers were involved? 


Jackson: Just us two. tried to break us up since he 
was close, but it was over before it got too vicious. 


Dr. Marlowe: How'd it end? 


Jackson: | just, | backed off. | mean, he's my friend, | 
wasn't gonna break his nose or anything. | didn't know 
what | was doing, so | just picked her up and left. | 
remember running and passing out, then you all got 
involved. 


Dr. Marlowe: "Her" being Jean here? 


Jackson: Yeah [Officer Jackson places a hand on 
SCP-2981] She's still dirty. 


Dr. Marlowe: Can you tell me more about Jean? How 
you came to know her, what she's like, maybe how she 
could've ended up being accused of murder? 


Jackson: | don't know how she ended up in cuffs... 
She's been on some meds for the past two years, maybe 
she was in some kind of fugue state. It wasn't looking 
good for a while. And _, Jesus... 


Dr. Marlowe: What about Officer ? 


Jackson: | didn't mean to hit him. But like, as soon as | 
hit him, he exploded. Lost his shit. It was like I'd never 
seen him before in my life, like he was someone 
completely different in that moment. | was genuinely 
scared. 


Dr. Marlowe: Was he threatening her? 
Jackson: Who? 
Dr. Marlowe: Jean. 


Jackson: He was threatening me. Is he pressing 
charges, or something, is that why I'm here? 


Dr. Marlowe: No, nothing like that, Officer Jackson. 
Once we've finished up here, you can work it out with 
Officer and hopefully everything will be fine. 


Jackson: Alright. 

Dr. Marlowe: Dr. Watts? 

Jackson: Huh? 

Dr. Marlowe: Do you have anything to add? 
Jackson: No. 

Dr. Marlowe: What? 

Jackson: You're asking me? 

Dr. Marlowe: No, | was asking Dr. Watts. 


Jackson: Who? 


Dr. Marlowe: I'm sorry, Dr. Watts here has been logging 
our conversation, | was just wondering if she had 
anything else to add. 


Jackson: There's no one else here. You mean the 
mashed potato bowl? 


Dr. Marlowe: Mashed potatoes? 
Jackson: | came in with this bowl of mashed potatoes. 


Dr. Marlowe: [Following a long pause] Officer Jackson, | 
think we may have a problem here. 


Footnotes 

1. Testing has found this to affect 44.7% of individuals exposed to 
SCP-2981. 

2. This effect has taken between 15 minutes to 4 hours to occur. 

3. Estimated based on field reports and observations to be between 
1 and 3 meters. 

4. Potatoes that are not mashed will begin to melt and rot if not 
properly preserved. 


« SCP-2980 | SCP-2981 | SCP-2982 » 


retain its shape for any length of time if left at rest. It will settle at a 
rate of approximately 0.5 cm per minute until it reproduces the 
shape of the inside of its container. SCP-357 will form a meniscus 
inside the container 7.5 cm high. The thickness of the substance at 
the top of the meniscus is 1 mm, at which point it merges with the 
surface of the container following a Gaussian curve. If allowed to 
settle on a flat surface, SCP-357 will spread until its average 
thickness is no more than 1 mm. The edge of the mass follows the 
same Gaussian function that is seen in the meniscus. 


If solid matter is placed in a container of SCP-357, it will sink into the 
substance at a constant rate of 0.5 cm per minute. SCP-357 will 
displace the appropriate volume as any other fluid would. If the solid 
object is fully absorbed by SCP-357, it will become impossible to 
distinguish between it and the substance of SCP-357. Theories 
range from the object taking on the properties of SCP-357 to the 
object being replaced by a corresponding volume of SCP-357.