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Build-a-Boar Workshop by RealSurrealSir
If you liked this little reworked/rewritten DeptCon entry here, check out some of my other articles on my Author Page to peruse all several of the other articles I’ve written.
Thanks also to
GreenGolem for the Dept. Logo!
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A recovered instance of SCP-6566-A, just prior to ritual banishment protocols and termination of remains.
Special Containment Procedures: All major shopping malls within a radius of 55 sq. miles or less of any known previous locations, especially those with consistently high customer traffic, are to be clandestinely monitored for any indications of an SCP-6566 appearance; as are relevant local law enforcement reports and any potentially related web results. All civilians known to have visited SCP-6566 and purchased their own SCP-6566-A instances for themselves or their children are to be debriefed and subsequently amnesticized, with any and all SCP-6566-A instances confiscated and disposed through proper banishment and termination procedures to be carried out by appropriately trained department exorcists.
Should a new instance of SCP-6566 be discovered, it is to be immediately closed off from civilian customer access. Specific measures may involve cordoning off the SCP-6566 instance by itself, the instance plus any nearby stores, entire sections of the host building, or a full temporary shutdown of the entire mall itself, ultimately depending on the particular circumstances around a given instance’s location and operation.
Eligible agents and staff from the Demonics Department with sufficient clearance and cognitohazardous resistance scores are to be rotated through a pool of candidates to carry out daily visits to all known active SCP-6566 instances, with preference given to members of SCP-6566 research and containment teams when available.1 Upon arrival, they are to craft and purchase an instance of SCP-6566-A, and subsequently secure the SCP-6566-A instance for their own ritual banishment protocols. Obsolete as of October 16, 2022;2 new containment protocols are currently being formulated.
Description: SCP-6566 collectively designates a series of anomalous novelty toy stores resembling the popular, similarly named Build-A-Bear Workshop chain, but operating under the variation “Build-A-Boar Workshop” instead. Such stores maintain logos and name displays directly derivative of that company’s own, but with subtle exceptions which vary from instance to instance. Examples have included the replacement of black eyes within the ursine head of the logo with larger, glowing red orbs; interior and exterior color schemes with a much higher prevalence of shades of red, orange, brown, and black; and small inanimate decorations resembling SCP-6566-A instances, made of largely the same materials but displayed in macabre configurations. In spite of the conventionally disturbing décor, instances appear to exhibit a minor perception-altering effect which renders nearby human persons much less skeptical of and uncomfortable with such traditionally disturbing surroundings.
A similar but more potent phenomenon can be seen in individuals’ perception and treatment of SCP-6566-A instances, leading most to identify and interact with them as conventional stuffed animals. SCP-6566-A designates the seemingly sapient and malevolent ‘toys’ partially resembling stuffed animals which patrons of SCP-6566 direct the creation of when visiting the stores. Though customers can build figures reminiscent of a number of different animal species (sometimes simultaneously), the most commonly referenced and most frequently depicted in-store are members of the Sus genus.3 Materials available for customer use in crafting SCP-6566-A instance SCP-6566 are largely biological such as flesh, bone, and viscera, as opposed to common materials used for non-anomalous analogues such as fabric, cloth, and cotton. Biological samples retrieved from SCP-6566 instances invariably display even or close-to-even amounts of human and wild boar genetic material, with human DNA often aligning with DNA of various missing persons from around the nearby geographic area.
SCP-6566 is staffed by consistent versions of the same three entities, even in the event that multiple SCP-6566 instances are operating over overlapping timeframes. Despite fully humanoid appearances, Foundation measurements invariably pick up moderate levels of Tartarean Resonance Energy, consistent with Naraka-Class demonic entities.4 These three entities have been designated as instances of SCP-6566-1, SCP-6566-2, and SCP-6566-3, and give their own names as Lucy, Ferris, and King respectively. Instances of all three will invariably become extremely agitated when directly referred to by any names or terms other than their self-proclaimed names.5 Despite this, the name tags worn by these entities have universally displayed only seemingly random and presently indecipherable glyphs and symbols in configurations unique to each instance, even between different SCP-6566 manifestations.6 All attempts at interviews, negotiations, or any significant dialogue with SCP-6566-1, SCP-6566-2, and SCP-6566-3, other than conversation relating to the building or purchasing of SCP-6566-A instances, have invariably been met with extremely hostile non-compliance whether by Foundation agents or civilian visitors.
Example of inanimate "decoration" found within one SCP-6566 instance.
History and Spread: The exact factors which determine the manifestation or de-manifestation of SCP-6566 instances are not fully understood. However, it has been observed that SCP-6566 instances will almost always appear between standard operating hours, usually in the middle of the night, and will most often take the place of previously-empty storefronts. Despite the suddenness of SCP-6566 appearances and the consistent lack of any records or official documentation of their existence, local shoppers and staff alike will usually claim to vaguely remember it being present within its host structure for several weeks or months prior, even if shown video and/or photographic evidence to the contrary.
The first known SCP-6566 instance was discovered in St. Louis, Missouri,7 in December of 2016 following an investigation prompted by unusually violent behavior from several children at one particular local school was flagged by an agent embedded in municipal law enforcement as potentially spurred by some sort of anomalous activity. Affected children were subsequently all observed to possess SCP-6566-A instances, and provided similar descriptions of SCP-6566 in response to inquiries as to where their SCP-6566-A instances originated. At least two children were hospitalized from illnesses believed to originate from the unsanitary (but unrealized) habit of constantly carrying around, cuddling, and playing with toys made primarily of decaying flesh and entrails.
SCP-6566 instances were subsequently observed appearing in nearby towns as well, with the area in which they might manifest growing at a steady pace, though this rate has been observed to dramatically accelerate if existing instances go unvisited. Currently, SCP-6566’s area of effect encompasses much of the midwestern and south-central United States, as well as bordering regions of southern Canada. If not halted, then at the current rate of expansion, SCP-6566’s area of potential appearance would theoretically cover the entire planet by 20██.
ADDENDUM: Incidental Case Study
Background: The following information originates from one of the first instances identified and responded to by the Foundation, and remains one of the most well-documented incidents to date. On the evening of November 30, 2017, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri made a post to a Parawatch forum,8 where it was soon flagged by associated Foundation web-crawlers.
A subsequent investigation found indications of potential validity to her claims leading to the tracking down and debriefing of the Phillips family in order to get more information and provide amnesticization if necessary. While husband/father Ron Phillips was out of town at the time, an internal decision was made to go forward with initial interviews from the rest of the household first; with the option to conduct a further interview with Ron Phillips and apply any similar disinformation and/or amnesticization procedures separately, if necessary.
Interview Logs:
Interviewer: Dr. Lena Primaru, a psychotherapist specializing in interaction with anomalous individuals and individuals affected by the anomalous, primarily children (or child-like anomalous entities) and families.
Interviewee: Stacy Phillips
Foreword: Stacy Phillips agreed to assist Foundation investigation under the cover story of investigation by a group of professional paranormal investigators. Extraneous or irrelevant dialogue has been removed for brevity.
<BEGIN LOG>
Dr. Primaru: So let's talk about the situation you described in your online post.
Stacy: I know it sounds pretty kooky, but… well, hopefully once you’ve seen what I’ve seen you’ll understand.
Dr. Primaru: Don’t worry Ms. Phillips, I can assure you I’ve seen plenty of things that are hard to believe. I think you’ll find me… open-minded, so please, don’t hold back.
Stacy: I appreciate it, truly.
Dr. Primaru: First of all, can you tell me more about where those stuffed pigs are from? The ones your lovely kids are so attached to, to your clear dismay. I believe your initial post mentioned a Build-a-Bear Workshop store, is that correct?
Stacy: Yes, at that big mall downtown; I can never remember the exact name. Anyway, last week, my husband and I took the kids once we saw one had opened, as a bit of a birthday treat. Oh, both of their birthdays, I should mention; they’re twins you see, and as widely as their interests diverge most of the time, this seemed like something they’d both enjoy.
Dr. Primaru: I can certainly imagine. So, this new store-
Stacy: I don’t think it was really one.
Dr. Primaru: What, not new?
Stacy: Not a toy store. I don’t know what the godforsaken place really was, but it wasn’t any regular old toy store. I even went back there afterwards, and it was gone! Poof. Empty store space now, lie there had never even been anything there.
Dr. Primaru: Interesting… That is quite odd.
Stacy: I’ll say! I even asked some employee from the Spencer’s next door, and they straight up said that I must be confused; that there had never been a Build-a-Bear at that location!
Dr. Primaru: I’ll, um, make sure I have someone on my team go through the local business and property records, at least whatever they can get their hands on. Regardless, if you don’t think it was a regular toy store, what do you think it really was?
Stacy: I don’t know what it was and I doubt I would even want to know, really. At least, I wouldn’t want to know anything beyond whatever I needed to to save my kids. You just have to help them, please!
Dr. Primaru: Don’t worry, Ms. Phillips, we will. In fact, I would actually love to speak with them a little later too, if that’s alright
Stacy: If you think it will help, be my guest! Just save them from those… things…
Dr. Primaru: The stuffed pigs?
Stacy: Yeah. Well, that’s what they look like most of the time at least.
Dr. Primaru: Do you suspect they’re not? That they’re really something else.
Stacy: I can’t know for sure, but… Yeah, they have to be. Otherwise, my kids wouldn’t be behaving the way they’ve been recently! It all started when they got those damned creepy pig toys, I’m sure of it. You know, the odd thing is, of all the animals those kinds of shops always have, both of my kids chose pigs of all things. Neither has ever shown interest in pigs, or ever asked for any pig-related toy or what-have-you.
Dr. Primaru: What other options do you remember seeing, might I ask?
Stacy: (pauses for a couple of seconds, appearing to think over the question.) You know, I’m honestly not sure. A lot of the visit is kinda hazy in my memory, for whatever reason.
(Stacy pauses for a few more seconds, then resumes speaking.) I remember that the atmosphere of the whole store felt wrong, almost immediately. At first, I put it off to the overactive imaginations of my kids rubbing off on me, but the sense only grew stronger, and soon I also had developed a pounding migraine to accompany that deep, inescapable dread.
As you might guess, it was all I could do to stand up and at least look at my kids’ toys; I didn't really have the wherewithal to go and explore the store, or investigate anything.
Dr. Primaru: Totally understandable. How about this, what happened once you left the store?
Stacy: Well, my head got better at least, I’ll tell you that. The kids seemed really excited over their new stuffed piggies also, so at first I was excited with them, but then, well you know
Dr. Primaru: I’m guessing this is where the distressing levels of recent misbehavior come in?
Stacy: That’s actually probably one of the nicer ways of putting it. They have both just been acting out in ways I never would have expected from either of them. When I say acting out, by the way, I’m not talking about run-of-the-mill temper tantrums or skipping their vegetables; I’m talking about stuff like repeatedly getting into fights at school, like setting random fires, like throwing rocks at the neighbors’ windows on their way home. Hell, it’s even gotten to the point of them straight-up stealing money out of purses, both mine and strangers! (Stacy begins to quietly sob, but stops to collect herself after a moment.)
Dr. Primaru: I understand that this is difficult, Ms. Philips.
Stacy: You know, this morning I found a blood trail in the backyard, which I followed to the edge of the woods only to see both of my kids carving up a dead cat.
Dr. Primaru: Where did they get the cat?
Stacy: They said they found it in the road, but… but the pained screeching and mewling of what I had at the time assumed were several different cats fighting somewhere nearby just twenty minutes or so beforehand, well, makes me fear the worst.
Dr. Primaru: Did they have their toys with them?
Stacy: Oh of course! They always do now, wherever they go. Now, I know it’s not necessarily that strange for kids their age to bring their stuffed animals everywhere, or talk to them like imaginary friends, but… it’s the WAY they talk and play with them that's alarming me most.
Dr. Primaru: Can you elaborate on that?
Stacy: Well, the kids whisper to them a lot of the time, as if they’re conspiring or something. Also, their frequent games and pretend sessions have taken on much more disturbing, even violent tones.
Dr. Primaru: Violent?
Stacy: I… well, it involves their other toys or, increasingly often, more like what still remains of them. I’d honestly really rather not elaborate further.
Dr. Primaru: Alright, we can come back to that if we really need to. How about your husband, does he share your concerns?
Stacy: (Stacy loudly scoffs before answering.) No, not beyond breezily noting that “the kids have been a little moodier lately”, even while insisting to me that all of this is somehow ‘no big deal…’ I swear, it's like he’s under some kind of weird spell too. So no, for whatever reason, Ron largely does NOT share my concerns.
Dr. Primaru: I see.
Stacy: Look Doc, I know this might sound like a poor mom blinded by her love of her kids and imagining they can do no wrong, but I’m telling you, this is not all in my head. Something is going on here!
Dr. Primaru: I know Ms. Phillips, and we are trying to get to the bottom of it. In the meantime, is there anything else you’d like to add, or anything you can think of that could be helpful to us?
(Stacy Phillips thinks for a few moments before answering.)
Stacy: Oh, actually now that you mention it, I’m pretty sure I got Ron to film the whole trip; assuming he didn't get distracted or take a photo instead of starting a video again… Honestly, you’d have to ask him for it since he never actually sent it to me even when I asked. He’s always forgetting things like that, no matter how many times– Sorry, that’s neither here nor there. I’ll make sure he sends the clip to you and your team. If he forgets again, I’ll take his phone and do it myself once he gets back.
Dr. Primaru: I’d appreciate it, thank you. One more question for now, though, if you wouldn’t mind. You mentioned something in your post about, um, visions of the stuffed pigs, as I believe you put it.
Stacy: (Stacy shudders briefly and pauses before speaking.) Yes, for the briefest of moments, I’ve gotten a few glimpses at those rotten and depraved caricatures of the toys my little angels love so much. When I see them like that, all reeking of death and decay, those beady black eyes seeming to stare hatefully and mockingly into my very soul… well it’s hard not to wonder if I’m seeing them for what they really are. I don’t know, maybe I’m just projecting; I certainly keep trying to tell myself I am.
Dr. Primaru: Well, uh, hopefully either way, my team and I will get to the bottom of it soon. Thank you again for your cooperation.
<END LOG>
Closing Statement: In a subsequent Cognitohazardous Resistance Examination,9 Stacy Phillips scored in the 98.7th percentile of individuals without prior anti-cognitohazardous training, potentially explaining her apparent partial resistance to SCP-6566’s perception-altering effects.
Ron Phillips returned to Kansas City the following morning, and the video mentioned by Stacy Phillips was discreetly taken from his phone after he refused to send a copy voluntarily. It is currently believed that Ron never actually reviewed the footage in the week since taking it, given the nonchalance he demonstrated regarding the recent developments involving his children and their instances of SCP-6566-A, as such an attitude would be unlikely had he actually viewed the footage. A video log of the recovered footage is available below:
After forcefully procuring the SCP-6566-A instances from Joshua and Kara Phillips to go along with the cellphone video from Ron Phillips, all members of the household were amnesticized, and the recovered SCP-6566-A instances were destroyed according to recently-established SCP-6566 procedures.
Investigation into the exact origin, ultimate purpose, and full anomalous capabilities of SCP-6566 is ongoing, as is the search for any outlying SCP-6566-A instances resulting from any prior, as-yet-undiscovered SCP-6566 manifestations.
UPDATE 16.10.2022:
On a routine visit to a new SCP-6566 instance in Yellowknife, MN, Canada shortly after the establishment of a standard exclusionary perimeter around the new instance,12 an initial attempt at implementation of further containment procedures by two plainclothes Foundation agents was met with previously-unobserved levels of resistance by SCP-6566 staff upon attempted entry. A log of the incident compiled from automatically uploaded body camera footage is available below:
Agent Hepburn was presumed lost in action following this incident. Similar SCP-6566 staff behaviors and reactions have been reported by agents visiting other SCP-6566 instances in the days since. Foundation agents have been instructed not to engage SCP-6566-1, SCP-6566-2, or SCP-6566-3 any further until such time that new containment procedures can be formulated and implemented.