Results: No immediate effect. Written paragraph noted 
to have disappeared after roughly five minutes. 


Procedure: D-7231, noted to possess arachnophobia, 
instructed to write briefly about his fear. 

Results: No immediate effect. Five minutes after D-7231 
was allowed to leave the room and the notepad was 
placed in one of the bags, it was discovered that the 
notepad was missing. Notepad discovered in one of the 
other bags placed in the testing room. 

Note: Due to information gathered, I’d suggest that 
D-7231’s condition be confirmed after 24 hours. - Dr. 
Kiryu 

Results: (24 hours following test) D-7231 shown various 
pictures of spiders, demonstrates no aggravation or 
uneasiness. However, it was noted during mealtime that 
D-7231 has since developed an extreme aversion to 
provided food, citing worry about allergic reactions. 
Medical records pertaining to D-7231 indicate no 
recorded allergies. 


Riven paced around the shared office, reading the test logs. “So it 
relieves your fear and trades it for someone else’s, | guess?” 


“The grass is always greener on the other side,” Kiryu commented 
idly, tapping away on his laptop. 


“Will it be destroyed?” 


Mark looked up from his computer screen. “Perhaps. I’m going to 
submit a request that it be properly locked up, though. | don’t know 
what will happen if someone tries to damage it, and until | know for 
sure, | don’t want to risk part of that rumor about a fear explosion 
being true.” He stretched his arms out and glanced at the digital 
clock hanging by the door. “There may be more we can still learn 
from the object.” 


Riven began stuffing the printouts into a filing cabinet. “How so?” 


Glancing out the window, Mark continued lightly. “Everyone's got 
that little voice in the back of their head nagging them about 
something.” He stood, walked to the window, opened it. A faint 
breeze fluttered the leaves of his bamboo plant. “People lead their 
own lives, have their own circumstances and worries. But in the end, 
there’s a sameness in the fear, inconsequential or silly though it may 
be. It's natural to worry about things.” 


Pausing in his filing, Riven was silent. 


Kiryu laughed. "You're not afraid a duck is watching you right now, 
are you?" 


Reality Check 


Item #: [pending] / SCP-XXXX 
Object Class: Safe 


Doctor Kiryu sat at his office desk, assorted experiment logs strewn 
around his workspace as he scribbled on the topmost sheet of 
paper. He didn’t look up when his assistant entered the room, 
dropped another stack of paperwork on the desk, and stole the 
unopened bottle of water sitting next to the potted bamboo. 


“You're writing up the report documentation already?” Researcher 
Riven Mercer uncapped the bottle and downed a third of the water. 


Kiryu still didn’t look up. “Yes. There’s only a few more preliminary 
tests left to run, and in an hour or so we'll have enough data 
compiled to write something solidly coherent.” 


Special Containment Procedures: SCP-XXXxX is to be 
stored in a fitted storage case, and kept in a standard 
containment locker at Site-19. 


“Why the custom-fit case?” Mercer picked up three of the testing log 
sheets, briefly scanning the contents. 


“It’s an old thing. Liable to break and should be handled carefully. 
Still sharp, though. Safety precaution. Have you booked and 
checked on the testing room yet, Mercer?” 


No response, save for the door swinging shut. 


Access to SCP-XXXxX for testing is to require Level-3 
authorization. Any interviews conducted with SCP-XXXX 
are to be logged; the corresponding documentation is to 
be forwarded to Dr. Kiryu for analysis. 


Kiryu crossed out the portion of sentence after the semicolon, but 


then after some thought, wrote it back in. Besides, once the typed 
report was submitted, the site director would be the one to decide 
whether the interviews would need further scrutiny. That sentence 
could be removed if found unnecessary. 


Description: SCP-XXXxX is an unornamented longsword 
believed to have been created during the late medieval 
period, approximately the mid-13th century. 


Riven was back a few minutes later, peering over Kiryu's shoulder. 
“Is “longsword’ really the right word for it? | feel like the medieval 
terminology would’ve been more like ‘cut and thrust sword’ or ‘hand 
and a half stabby thing’. Something more specific.” 


“I'll consult someone on-site who has more experience with this sort 
of thing, Riven. Let me finish writing the rough draft already.” 


When held at the grip by a human being, SCP-XXXX is 
capable of speech. Though SCP-XXXxX will typically 
shout generic challenges and similar battle taunts when 
swung, it has been known to emit distressed 
vocalizations when making contact with straw-filled 
practice dummies, and will produce crying-like sounds 
when used to slice vegetables. 


“Are you serious? It cried? Wish | could’ve been there... why didn’t 
you ask me to aid during the experiment?” 


“You were testing out the antique fighting fans with another 
researcher. Rivers, | think.” Kiryu gathered all the papers into a 
messy stack, scowled at it, and briskly shuffled them into a more 
neat arrangement. He picked up the papers and stood up. “Besides, 
after the first cabbage, | had to suspend the rest of the trials.” 


SCP-XXXxX is sapient, and able to “communicate” with 
other swords through an unknown process, allegedly 
allowing SCP-XXXX to determine characteristics of the 
weapons it has come in contact with; such information 
includes relative age and events the weapon has been 
involved with. Though the reach of the effect is unknown, 
itis believed that SCP-XXXxX is able to interact with any 


sword within a 1 meter radius of its blade. 


“Oh, you’re typing now? The room we reserved is open early; just 
checked.” Riven looked over Kiryu’s shoulder and read off the laptop 
screen. “How did we find out it can mind-link-talk-whatever to other 
swords?” 


Kiryu chuckled. “I’m getting to that. Pass me the recovery log, won't 
you?” 


Addendum XXXX-1: SCP-XXXX was initially recovered 
by the British Museum, following an archaeological 
estate refurbishment. While it was held in temporary 
storage pending future display, museum staff handling 
the sword reported hearing voices, generally requesting 
to be placed “closer to that lovely rapier a few shelves 
over” so it could be “properly introduced to her’. 


“...80 it was hitting on another sword? Was that other sword 
anomalous?” 


“Not that we could tell. There’s actually an interview log somewhere 
in there that | found interesting. Why don’t you read through it while | 
finish typing up these last two addenda?” 


Addendum XXXX-2: Though it is still inconclusive 
whether SCP-XXXX produces speech itself or is 
inhabited by an entity that speaks for it, interviews 
conducted with the object have indicated that it shows a 
familiarity with various swords of European myth. (See 
following transcript) 


<Begin Log> 


Dr. Kiryu is seated at a table in an experimental room. 
SCP-XXXX lies on the table; Kiryu holds it by the grip. 


Dr. Kiryu: Tell me more about the other blades you 
knew. 


SCP-XXXxX: | heard there was one particularly choosy 
blade... Excalibur? Many stories about that one. | can’t 


imagine turning so many potential wielders away. And 
Durendal, he had so many things in his hilt. And he was 
proclaimed to be the sharpest in the world. | wouldn’t 
want to live with that pressure. 


Dr. Kiryu: Did you ever come in contact with either 
sword? 


SCP-XXXxX: [pause] No. | never met the two. But every 
blade | met knew the stories. 


Dr. Kiryu: Were there any others you knew to be 
famous? 


SCP-XXXX: Hmm. Joyeuse. Joyeuse was so pretty, so | 
hear. But there’s no way | could deal with all that 
attention. 


Dr. Kiryu: Do you wish your first owner was more well- 
known? 


SCP-XXXxX: | can’t say for sure. It’s harder to stay true to 
your path if people want to use you. Clarent was said to 
be a sword of peace, and look what happened to him. 


Dr. Kiryu: Are there any you envied? 


SCP-XXXxX: | admired two highly. Arondight and 
Galatine, | think their names were. Sometimes | think 
about how much I'd like to go on adventures like they 
did, rescuing damsels and serving their lords righteously. 


Dr. Kiryu: What happened with the rapier you wanted to 
be introduced to? 


SCP-XXXx: [silence] 
Dr. Kiryu: ls something wrong? 
SCP-XXXX: He refused to speak to me. 


<End Log> 


Dr. L: Subject D-143890, how are you feeling? 


D-14390: Eh, not bad doc, not bad. Kinda 
wanna take another nap in the tent. 


Dr. L: Well, that's what we're here to talk 
about. Please describe your experience inside 
of SCP-666. 


D-14390: Heh, no sweat THERE doc. See, | 
just stroll in like you said, have myself a seat. 
Next thing | know, I'm in this hole-in-the wall 
back home in [REDACTED], with this sweet 
bitch Chloe. 


Dr. L: "Chloe"? 


D-14390: Oh yeah, she was pricey and she 
wasn't the best looking trick south of Kennedy, 
but she had some connections. Never did 
meet up with her once that we weren't getting 
high. 


Note: "Chloe" was the working name of the 
prostitute that D-14390 was with at the time of 
his arrest. 


Dr. L: Very well, please describe the scenario 
for me. 


D-14390: Well, it was her apartment, right? 
Kinda dingy, a little messy like she hadn't 
cleaned it in a couple weeks, but | wasn't there 
for the scenery, y'know? So | drop my cash off 
on the living room table and we head into the 
bedroom. | shoot up with her, used my own 
needle of course, and then we get freaky. | 
mean, we did everything under the sun and a 
couple that never saw the light of day! She 
knew positions | never did, and had drugs | 
hadn't even *heard* of. About halfway through 


Riven snickered. “Aww, those are some awkward circumstances. 
Surprising that it knew about so many different legendary swords, 
though. Are you including this interview in the documentation?” 


“| plan to.” 


“What about any other notable behaviors? Anything else that 
revealed more about the thing’s mentality?” 


“Pass me the experiment log about the kid’s toy sword, please.” 
Kiryu kept typing. 


Addendum XXXX-3: When placed near a child’s plastic 
play sword during an experiment, SCP-XXXX expressed 
excitement after the encounter, stating that the sword 
belonged to a hero who had slain many dragons and 
was destined for greatness. The plastic sword, on loan 
from Doctor ’s son, was notably considered a favorite 
plaything. Further testing of SCP-XXXX’s ability to 
appraise weapons of more historical significance is 
pending. 


“That’s adorable.” 


“| agree. And it firmly establishes the entity as rather benign, | think.” 
Kiryu closed his laptop. “Let’s finish up that last test.” 


Addendum XXXxX-4: During a series of tests runon / / 
, SCP-XXXX was placed next to a medieval sword for 
several hours. When questioned, SCP-XXXX appeared 
to have undergone shock and disillusionment, repeatedly 
stating, “raiding and pillaging at behest of the lord... was 
this what being a knight really meant?” SCP-XXXX then 
refused to speak for seven days following the incident. 


“When do you think it'll speak again?” 


“There’s no way to say for sure,” Kiryu sighed. He typed away at his 
laptop, a folder open in front of him. “It might start talking tomorrow, 
or three years from now. We don’t know enough. We don’t even 

know if it’s the sword itself that was talking, or something inhabiting 


the sword that just up and left.” 


“It’s been almost two weeks... what are you going to do with the 
report you've got?” Riven picked up the folder and flipped through 
the files within. “There’s a lot we have here.” 


“I'll mark it ‘pending’ or ‘unfiled’. I’m not entirely convinced that it 
would have needed serious containment, anyway. There are more 
dangerous things in unspecialized containment.” A few clicks of the 
wireless mouse. “It'll be put with the other ones that didn’t make it.” 


Riven looked up. “Other ones?” 


“Sometimes we break things to learn about them. Sometimes we 
can’t put them back together, no matter how much we learn.” 


“How many others?” 


“Hundreds, at least. Thousands maybe. Not all of them are or were 
inanimate.” 


“ ” 


“We’ve got another incoming cache of items to process. Submit the 
sword and the existing documentation to Storage and Records. We 
need to move on.” 


Request for Item Storage (Doctor M. Kiryu, Researcher 
R. Mercer) 

Anomalous Item # Cache: 

Recovery Date: / / 

Description of Effects: soeech, apparent sentience, 
inanimate interaction with like objects (see attached 
documentation) 

Reason for Storage Request: item has currently ceased 
to exhibit effects 

Routine Reexamination: monthly 


Salut d'Amour 


Another couple came to visit today. The man played a piece I’d 
never heard before, perhaps slow jazz; he wasn’t too much of a 
pianist, so | helped him out. He just needed to relax his wrists and 
get his posture right. He reminded me of myself, a little. The woman 
laughed, she reminded me of you. They embraced, they walked off. 


Apparently I’m the talk of the town on certain days. Lots of visitors, 
lots of songs, lots of smiles and laughs and most of the time | need 
to rescue someone (don’t worry, | only help them out if they seem 
sincere) because their hands are shaking and a pianist wouldn't 
want to mess up on a song they’re playing for the love of their life. 


| don’t remember the first time someone visited me, out in the woods 
on the outskirts of town. Someone played a charming little love 
ballad, but their nervousness made the piece too forceful, so | 
stepped in to aid them. Their partner thought it was beautiful. The 
next week another couple visited, and somehow whispers of “a true 
love piano” started spreading. 


Not that the piano itself is anything special, though. It’s just the old 
one that used to live in my basement before you convinced me to 
haul it out and keep it in the living room so we could play duets. 


Do you remember when we met? 


Once | was your music tutor. Your mentor was once my mentor. 
Your mother thought it would benefit both of us to play a few songs 
together a few times each month. 


Do you remember the first concert we shared? 


It was sometime in the very end of winter, when the first flowers of 
spring were starting to unfurl from the snowbanks on the hills. | wore 
a blue tie you nagged me to wear, you wore an azure (azure, not 
just blue, you assured me repeatedly) dress to match. You worried 


about skipping notes, | worried about my heart skipping beats. 
Do you remember the first time you told me of your dreams? 


We were working on a slow waltz. You sighed and told me you 
dreamt of leaving your quiet household and living in the cacophony 
of distant, foreign cities. You tired of the simple song of our 
hometown, you yearned for the intricate music of the wide world. | 
encouraged you. | supported you. It was your dream. 


Do you remember the last song | played for you, the day you left for 
a plane that would take you across an ocean and away from me 
forever? 


Edward Elgar’s Salut d’Amour. When you left, | couldn’t bring myself 
to play any other melodies. Maybe | needed the practice on that 
piece, maybe | wasn’t satisfied with my technique overall, maybe | 
wasn't satisfied with the way | played that day— 


Maybe | believed that if | had played beautifully enough, | could have 
convinced you not to leave. But then one day | woke up with the 
snow surrounding me, and | realized that | couldn't leave that spot. | 
stayed with that piano you loved, because you loved it, and | 
believed you loved me, even though now | can no longer coax 
melodies from the keys.