Sometimes, the strangest thing of all is to be brave when all odds seem against you.
Item #: SCP-9291
Bandage from SCP-9291 on the forehead of a patient complaining of a headache.
Object Class: Safe
Special Containment Procedures: SCP-9291 is currently in the possession of SCP-9291-1.
SCP-9291-1 is contained in situ at Massachusetts General Hospital, where he is currently receiving care. When possible, SCP-9291-1 is encouraged to be allowed to roam and visit other patients on his floor. A Scranton Reality Anchor is to be installed in SCP-9291-1's room, and its activation is to be synced to elevated physiological readings associated with distress.
Dr. Jay Everwood is to visit SCP-9291-1 once monthly for the duration of his care, under the cover of a pediatric social worker.
Description: SCP-9291 describes a small, cardboard box of bandages. Although there is no notable branding on the exterior, the phrase "Bravery Badges" can be seen on the front of the box. When applied directly to the skin, SCP-9291 has been noted to induce a calming and positive mindset on the wearer.
SCP-9291-1 is Elliot Weaver, an eight-year-old boy currently receiving treatment for Metastatic Extraosseous Ewing's Sarcoma. It is currently theorized that SCP-9291-1's state of mind affects the properties of SCP-9291.
SCP-9291 was discovered shortly after SCP-9291-1's admittance to Massachusetts General's pediatric floor for complications pertaining to his diagnosis. Within a week of his arrival, reporting of patient and staff's quality of life had increased drastically, leading to a 50% increase in health outcomes across the floor. Foundation medical personnel training at Massachusetts General, believing the sudden improvements to be tied to an anomalous source, filed a report to Site-55.
Addendum 9291.1: Due to the belief SCP-9291 was associated with GoI-445 (Dr. Wondertainment), Dr. Everwood, former Head of GoI-445 Research, was summoned from Site-43 to perform an on-site consult alongside Dr. Alces.
SCP-9291 Observation Log #1
Personnel Present: Dr. Jay Everwood, Head of GoI Research, Site-43.
Date: 11 February, 2026
«Begin Log»
<Dr. Everwood and Dr. D'Esposito stand in the doorway of a play place. SCP-9291-1 is playing cars with another child in the corner. SCP-9291 is on a nearby table.>
D'Esposito: Here he is. We try not to have him stay in one place for too long, though it's getting harder for him to move around. That said, sometimes the nurses still have trouble catching him and his walker.
<Everwood and D'Esposito laugh.>
D'Esposito: Well, I'll let you to it. <She steps into the room.> Casey! Someone is here to see Elliot. I'll bring you back in a half hour when they're done, alright?
<The child nods and scrambles to her feet, steadying herself on a drip stand. SCP-9291-1 tugs at her hand to get her attention, before placing a bandage covered with dogs from SCP-9291 near the edge of the needle.>
SCP-9291-1: So we can continue playing when you get back!
<D'Esposito collects her, and slides the glass door closed behind them.>
<Dr. Everwood approaches the table.>
Everwood: Hey, pal. Mind if I take a seat?
<SCP-9291-1 nods. Everwood slides a plastic purple chair from the table.>
SCP-9291-1: My name is Elliot. Are you new here?
Everwood: Nice to meet you, Elliot. I'm Dr. Everwood, though you can call me Jay. I'm going to be talking to some of the kids on this floor every so often.
SCP-9291-1: Quinn will be happy to hear that. He always wants to talk to any new face he sees.
Everwood: Well, I've definitely heard a lot of people mention your name. People talk about you like you're the mayor around here.
SCP-9291-1: They have me do laps around the floor a few times a day. It is easy to check in on everyone when we're slowly making our way around.
SCP-9291-1: Do you want a bravery badge? I like to give one to all the new people I meet to help them feel better.
Everwood: Of course. I appreciate the concern but I'm feeling… fine.
SCP-9291-1: Everyone here is either sick or spends their time around really sick kids. There is a lot of crying around here.
<SCP-9291-1 scans Everwood for a moment.>
Everwood: You can put it wherever you'd like.
<After another moment, his eyes find Everwood's prosthetic arm. He places a bandage from SCP-9291 depicting a stag beetle on their shoulder.>
Everwood: Thanks, bud. I think I'm beginning to feel better already.
<SCP-9291-1 giggles.>
SCP-9291-1: I like to put them where it hurts.
<He wiggles his foot around, revealing a skull-and-crossbones bandage around his ankle.>
SCP-9291-1: Sometimes my foot really hurts, like it's on fire. The doctor told me there are a bunch of little evil cells in there that they are trying to get out. Kinda like a bunch of small angry bees!
Everwood: (Softly) That sounds—
SCP-9291-1: What happened to your arm?
<He leans forward, trying to get a better look at Everwood's prosthetic.>
Everwood: I traded it for my smarts.
SCP-9291-1: Woah… really? My parents said the doctors might have to cut my foot off. Do you think they would let me trade it for a cool peg leg. Like a pirate! <He shrinks.> I asked my parents, but they didn't like the idea…
Everwood: It's dangerous being a pirate, you know. All those monsters, the ocean. If my son told me he wanted to be a pirate, I would be worried about him.
SCP-9291-1: Is your son here too?
Everwood: No he's back at home with his mom. I think he would like you; sometimes he needs a little help being brave.
SCP-9291-1: Does he like cars?
Everwood: Pokémon, mostly. He's practically glued to his Switch.
SCP-9291-1: They have a cart here with a lot of cool games and consoles that they bring to your room and everything. You just have to make sure not to save over someone else's game.
SCP-9291-1: Was it… scary? Your arm.
Everwood: Of course, at first, but it wasn't the end of the world. You learn to live without it after a while.
SCP-9291-1: You're very brave.
<Everwood laughs.>
Everwood: No, I'm— Thank you, Elliot.
SCP-9291-1: When you're not wearing the arm do you still feel what was there?
Everwood: Even if there's nothing there, your mind fills in the blanks a little bit.
<Everwood removes their prosthetic, holding it in their free hand. They rotate what is left of their shoulder, animating the limp sleeve of their whitecoat. They put their arm back on.>
Everwood: You never really lose that part of yourself. It doesn't make you less of a person.
<SCP-9291-1 nods along.>
SCP-9291-1: I will be sure to put a bandage on it so it feels better.
Everwood: Where did you ever find such a cool box of bandages?
SCP-9291-1: I saw them one day when we walked by the store downstairs to get iced cream. I didn't know what a "bravery badge" was, so I asked my parents if I could buy them and then I started using them. Sometimes, the doctors let me put my own bandages on when they take blood from my finger.
Everwood: Careful, they might hire you if you start assisting them all the time.
SCP-9291-1: Bandages are really good at helping people feel better! Whenever someone is hurt or sad, a bandage always cheers them up!
Everwood: Jokes also work, from what I've head.
SCP-9291-1: People don't think I'm funny.
Everwood: You'll get them one day, pal. I know it.
<The pair continue chatting until D'Esposito reappears with a pair of children. Everwood stands from their seat, offering SCP-9291-1 a high-five. He accepts.>
Everwood: Oh, before I go, would it be possible to take a bandage for the road? I have a friend who could use it.
SCP-9291-1: Of course!
<He pulls a bright green bandage from the box, handing it to Everwood.>
Everwood: I'll see you again soon, Elliot. Take care of yourself while I'm gone.
SCP-9291-1: Come back if you need another bandage!
«End Log»
Upon obtaining a sample SCP-9291 instance (which Dr. Alces attempted to claim for himself, citing his personal affection for its color) Dr. Everwood and Dr. Alces returned to Site-55 and performed a Hume reading of the object. Readings were within acceptable non-anomalous boundaries, and there were no further indications that the object was truly anomalous.
Also notable of the object was the lack of Dr. Wondertainment branding; Head Researcher May Waters of Site-55 was tasked to investigate this discrepancy. Due to Researcher Waters' unique relationship with the Dr. Wondertainment company, she was instructed to call their customer support number. The representative speaking, one Hairy Hogarth, denied the company's involvement in the anomaly after a 20-minute hold.
Dr. Alces suggested returning to Massachusetts General Hospital to perform a Hume reading on SCP-9291-1, which Dr. Everwood objected to. When pressed, Dr. Everwood stated "He's just a kid. He's not hurting anyone, nor do I think he will. I can do the reading next time I'm in town in a month. He's a long term care resident anyway, so he's not going anywhere." Dr. Alces acquiesced. Before leaving Site-55, Dr. Everwood requested personal responsibility on the SCP-9291 case, which was approved in joint by Directors Blank and Alder.
Addendum 9291.2: Dr. Everwood traveled back down to Boston for SCP-9291 research on 19 March, 2026 following a diagnosis of breast cancer.1 They entered SCP-9291-1's room at approximately 1300 hours.
SCP-9291 Observation Log #2
Personnel Present: Dr. Jay Everwood, Head of GoI Research, Site-43.
Date: 19 March, 2026
«Begin Log»
<Dr. Everwood sits next to SCP-9291-1's hospital bed. SCP-9291-1 is curled under a blanket, with a towel on his forehead. He is noticeably jaundiced.>
Everwood: Hey, buddy. Do you mind if I take your temperature?
<Dr. Everwood produces a mobile Hume reading scanner.>
SCP-9291-1: Okay.
<Dr. Everwood activates the reader. After a moment, it indicates that all readings are within acceptable levels.>
SCP-9291-1: Dr. Jay, I'm not feeling too good.
Everwood: I heard that the doctors were pursuing a more aggressive treatment plan for you to try to speed things up.
SCP-9291-1: I didn't think it would hurt this bad.
Everwood: I know, buddy. I know.
<A pause.>
Everwood: Have you been wearing your badges?
<SCP-9291-1 shakes his head.>
SCP-9291-1: I'm not being brave right now. I don't want other people to not be brave because of me.
Everwood: Nonsense! You're being super brave right now.
<SCP-9291-1 curls in tighter under the blanket, grimacing.>
SCP-9291-1: I'm making my parents really sad. The nurses too. And I haven't been able to see any of my friends in a little bit.
SCP-9291-1: I don't want to be the reason people keep crying, Dr. Jay.
Everwood: Even when you're feeling this bad you're still more worried about keeping the people around you happy, yeah?
<SCP-9291-1 nods.>
Everwood: Don't you think that's a really brave thing to do?
SCP-9291-1: But I'm still so scared… I'm not ready to lose my foot yet.
Everwood: And that's alright.
<Everwood swallows hard.>
Everwood: Sometimes, things can be really bad and scary but… they get better.
SCP-9291-1: '…it wasn't the end of the world'.
Everwood: Right. Exactly.
<SCP-9291-1 yawns.>
SCP-9291-1: I wish I could be as brave as you, Dr. Jay.
<Everwood hesitates for a moment.>
Everwood: I, uh— how about I transfer some of my bravery to you?
SCP-9291-1: You can do that?
<Everwood chuckles.>
Everwood: Haven't you been doing that the entire time?
SCP-9291-1: Oh.
SCP-9291-1: But what if I accidentally hurt you too?
<Everwood wiggles their prosthetic arm.>
Everwood: I think I'll be able to handle it. I promise.
<SCP-9291-1 motions to SCP-9291, sitting on the nearby side table. Everwood hands him the box; SCP-9291-1 produces two bandages from SCP-9291: one with a skull and crossbones and one with a stag beetle, and hands the latter to Everwood.>
<Everwood unwraps the bandage and places it on their forehead. SCP-9291-1 removes the towel from their forehead and does the same.>
SCP-9291-1: Now what do we do?
Everwood: We close our eyes for a moment, and feel the bravery shift. Ready?
<SCP-9291-1 nods, and closes his eyes.>
Everwood: It's very common for people to be afraid of the dark, you know. People are split between whether or not its the dark itself or what's in there that's scary. Sometimes there's nothing there. It's just dark.
Everwood: I've spent most of my life living in the dark, in a sense, but even at my worst, there was always some light to help push me through it. You see the light now, don't you?
SCP-9291-1: Mhm!
Everwood: Good.
Everwood: There will always be that light there, no matter how dark it gets. When I wore the prosthetic for the first time, it felt like I would never be able to hold anything again. They never let me give up, though. You'll be back to running around in no time. Just make sure not to run too fast, or else I won't be able to catch you for these talks anymore.
SCP-9291-1: Can I get my peg leg too?
Everwood: Of course, buddy.
<SCP-9291-1 smiles. His eyes are still closed. He yawns.>
SCP-9291-1: Thank you, Dr. Jay. I feel a lot better. I'm going to pay you back one day. Promise.
Everwood: I'm glad. Please get some rest, and remember what we talked about.
SCP-9291-1: Goodnight, Dr. Jay.
Everwood: Goodnight, Elliot.
«End Log»
Following this, Dr. Everwood returned to Site-55 and confirmed that SCP-9291-1 was not anomalous. Researcher Waters, who Dr. Alces had pressed to further contact the Dr. Wondertainment company, indicated that she had spoken to Judy Papille, Head of the Sweets and Consumables Department from the Dr. Wondertainment company. Papille in turn, had spoken to Holly Wondertainment Light, who denied any involvement in the anomaly's creation, but did indicate the following: "Sometimes, the strangest thing of all is to be brave when all odds seem against you."
SCP-9291 was then reclassified to Explained.
Dr. Everwood requested to visit SCP-9291-1 before his discharge. The motion was approved.
Item #: SCP-9291-EX
Object Class: Explained
Special Containment Procedures: Dr. Everwood has requested possession of SCP-9291-EX after SCP-9291-1-EX gave it to them following their final encounter. The motion was approved.
SCP-9291-1-EX was discharged from Massachusetts General Hospital on April 12th, 2026.
Description: SCP-9291-EX describes a small, cardboard box of bandages. Although there is no notable branding on the exterior, the phrase "Bravery Badges" can be seen on the front of the box. They possess no anomalous properties.
SCP-9291-1-EX is Elliot Weaver, an eight-year-old boy formerly receiving treatment for Metastatic Extraosseous Ewing's Sarcoma. It was theorized that SCP-9291-1-EX's state of mind affected the properties of SCP-9291-EX.
SCP-9291-EX Observation Log #3
Personnel Present: Dr. Jay Everwood, Head of GoI Research, Site-43.
Date: 11 April, 2026
«Begin Log»
<Dr. Everwood wheels SCP-9291-1-EX along a rooftop garden path. They occasionally move to re-center the wheelchair on the path after it drifts too far to the right. SCP-9291-1-EX kicks his legs; one terminates with bright red velcroed-shoes, while the other ends in thick gauze and plaster.>
<There are other groups in the garden as well, touching budding flowers and low-hanging tree limbs. A light breeze can be heard intermittently on the camera.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: What a nice day.
<SCP-9291-1-EX sneezes.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: Almost perfect.
Everwood: I'm glad to see you're feeling better, Elliot. By the way, Dr. D'Esposito tells me a bunch of band-aids went missing during your stay… You wouldn't have anything to do with that, would you?
SCP-9291-1-EX: N-no. I promise.
Everwood: Heh. How's your recovery going?
SCP-9291-1-EX: It's so weird. Sometimes, when I'm sitting in bed I try to wiggle my toes, I can still feel them even though there's nothing there!
<SCP-9291-1-EX begins wiggling his legs again.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: The doctors say I won't be able to get a new foot for a little while, but some of the options are really really cool!
Everwood: Is your peg leg an option?
SCP-9291-1: It's not…
<Everwood gives a half laugh. They wheel SCP-9291-1-EX to a nearby set of benches, and sit next to them.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: I think I want to get something like your arm.
Everwood: Oh?
SCP-9291-1-EX: Yeah! Your arm is awesome and you have been so great. I want to get something that reminds me of my role model.
<Everwood sniffles.>
Everwood: (Softly) Right. Thank you, Elliot.
SCP-9291-1-EX: Dr. Jay? Are you okay?
Everwood: Hm? Yeah. I think I'm just feeling a little under the weather.
<Everwood jumps as SCP-9291-1 leans over and places a hand on their forehead.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: Hmmmmm. I don't actually know how to tell if you have a fever or not.
Everwood: No I don't think I have a fever. Thank you for checking, though.
SCP-9291-1-EX: So what's wrong? Is it an adult things that I'll understand when I'm older?
Everwood: I think I just need a little bravery, like the last during my last visit.
SCP-9291-1-EX: Right!
<SCP-9291-1-EX begins digging in his pockets. He pulls out a slightly worn cardboard box.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: We can do it just like last time, but this time I will be giving my bravery to you.
Everwood: Are you ready?
SCP-9291-1-EX: I've been ready!
<SCP-9291-1-EX removes a pair of bandages from SCP-9291-EX, one with a skull and crossbones, and the other with a stag beetle. He places one on his forehead, and places the other on Everwood's left collarbone.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: And now we close our eyes and watch the bravery shift.
<SCP-9291-1-EX closes his eyes.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: One day in school we learned about where butterflies come from. I didn't know that the little caterpillars that ate all the leaves and apples transformed into something so pretty.
SCP-9291-1-EX: My teacher told us being in a cocoon was like taking a really long nap. That night, I asked my parents to wrap me in a ton of blankets while I hugged my knees. I asked them to turn off the light too, because caterpillars don't get light when they're in a cocoon.
<Everwood's breathing becomes more labored.>
SCP-9291-1-EX: I thought it was scary at first. A lot of things try to eat caterpillars, and people step on them sometimes too. They have to sit so still and hope no one knocks them over too! I was so sad thinking about all the caterpillars that never got to be butterflies.
SCP-9291-1-EX: So now, I'm really happy when I see a butterfly! My parents helped me out of my blanket cocoon, and my dad picked me up and we flew throughout the whole house. Transforming is so scary, but it makes something so beautiful!
<Everwood sniffles.>
Everwood: Thank you, Elliot, for this.
SCP-9291-1-EX: No problem! Are you feeling better now?
I think I will.
«End Log»
