#tho i guess the neutral description sort of fits him too

[akai-anna]

i like how he literally promises not to do anything reckless to megure without batting an eye, and then proceeds to do the exact opposite

[aspaceformyself]

Upside down; Chapter 5

Note: I didn’t really think I was going to continue writing this anytime soon. I fell into a bad slump and was also too much of a coward to keep going. I somehow picked up enough courage tho. To continue writing, to continue this. Probably because, this series entangles with a lot of my own personal struggles and I really want to find a way to help myself through this. I hope this courage stays long enough to finish writing this. 

Chapter 4 - Chapter 6

His first date with Yuuri involved sneaking out at 3 AM in the early hours to get an ice cream. She called it an adventure and threw a wink along his way. Namjoon blushed so hard he prayed the pink was not visible on his face. Wait, wait, wait, did he just call this a date? Well, at least, that’s what he told himself in his head. After an exhausting day of rehearsals and practice sessions, sneaking out in the dead of the night for an ice cream was not how Namjoon expected his day to end. But hey, it was Yuuri who offered, and he found no reason to say no. More than offered, she just dragged him along with her impromptu plan.

“Man! This feels so good!” She exclaimed throwing her arms around. It was a windy early hours of dawn. The sky is still a blanket of thick dark blue velvet with occasional stars decorated here and there. Namjoon pulled his hoodie further around him as he felt the chill in the air prickle his skin.

“Aren’t you cold Yuuri?” He called out to the girl gleefully skipping in front of him.

“Hm? No”, She said simply, now bouncing, “I can’t tolerate hot weathers, but I can, any amount of cold”.

Namjoon giggled, “I don’t like hot weathers too but then again I’m not a huge fan of cold either”.

“You like it neutral then?”

“Maybe, but I like it when it’s windy, you know, like the atmosphere right before it’s about to rain?”

“Oh! I love that weather too! I actually have a special kind of romantic pining for it!”

“A romantic pining huh?”

“Yes! Especially the smell of soil when it starts to drizzle!”

“I feel you girl, I feel you”.

They fell into a comfortable silence after this into the quiet of the streets around them. Namjoon liked this. He liked how easy his conversations flowed with her now. Not that they didn’t before but he could really feel something change between them. Perhaps it was their conversation a few days ago or perhaps it was the fact that they exchanged numbers now, Namjoon could feel Yuuri’s demeanour around him slightly change. He felt like she opened a small peephole in the barrier she usually surrounds herself with. But a peephole is all it is and Namjoon was still grateful, sizing every opportunity to completely crack her open, figure her out, figure out what about her has him so enthralled that he’s impulsively treading on a path whose end he can’t see.

“I doubt any store would be open at this hour Yuuri”, He sighed almost after 15 minutes of aimless walking.

“Wait and watch”, was all Yuuri said and threw another wink at him. Namjoon lost himself for a moment again but jolted right out of his dreams when he felt her slender fingers circle around one of his wrists and within seconds she was tugging him away into a narrow lane, up a slope. It took awhile for Namjoon to process the change in his surroundings. They were no longer in the posh/ urban cut of the city but a sort of small townish lane. He certainly didn’t expect a place like this to exist in the area he lives. It was a surprise. After treading along the slope, Yuuri stopped in front of a small parlour.

“Wow….” Namjoon awed as he took a bite of his chocolate flavoured ice cream.

“It’s good right!” Yuuri exclaimed, her eyes twinkling as she dug into her own coffee and chocolate mix of ice cream.

“It is!” Namjoon said taking another spoonful into his mouth.

“How did you know about this place?” He asked, still delighted over his ice cream.

“Well”, Yuuri just shrugged, “I found this place about a week ago”.

“Oh”, Namjoon took her answer and didn’t think more of it before he caught her eyeing at him, her expression, a mixture of both mischief and guilt.

“Waaiittt”, He stopped, looking up at her with narrow, accusing eyes, “don’t tell me you’ve been sneaking around by yourself late at nights like this!”

“I’m so sorry Jooooooooon!” Yuuri whined, pressing her hands together and bowing down to him, the nickname escaping her lips very easily, once again making Namjoon all flustered. She never called him that. Heck she never even said his name. This was a first. But Yuuri didn’t seem to notice it, neither the nickname nor how flushed Namjoon looked, she continued, “But I was desperate you know! I was just working and working and working all day long. And, and it was suffocating, just sitting, all holed up in the studio without having the time or space to breathe and whenever I felt the urge, I used to sneak away like this”.

Namjoon sighed. What can he say to that? He understands that all too well.

“I understand that Yuuri”, He said, a bit curtly. Yuuri winced.

“But, do you realize how dangerous this is? It’s one thing when it's crowded but you do know how deserted this area gets after dark right? And it’s not safe at all! Anything could’ve happened to you!”

Yuuri gave a whimper of protest under his stern gaze, guilt smeared over her face. And then she groaned.

“Yuuri!”

Namjoon sighed again. There’s definitely no chance of getting through to this girl. She’s so reckless, fearless and independant all the time that she won’t even give a thought to the consequences she has to face later on.  And she’s unstoppable. So Namjoon did the only thing he could think of then, at that moment.

“Look, I do understand that you get suffocated and you want to get out”, He said and looked at Yuuri who still looked like she’s ready to protest if he objects, “I feel like that a lot of times too. But!”

She groaned again and began to say something but Namjoon beat her to it.

“If you feel like that next time and you really want to get out”, He paused eyeing her carefully, “Drop by my studio or just give me a call or a text or anything. I’ll tag along. But I’m not letting you go alone!”

Yuuri’s face lit up like a thousand bulbs at his offer.

“For real?!” She gaped at him.

“Yes, for real”, Namjoon agreed, without lifting his head up to look at her, his gaze fixed on his ice cream. He was kind of surprised at himself at how quickly he offered himself. He was worried if it looked desperate or came across as something similar. But the expression on Yuuri’s face set aside all his worries. Now he was glad he offered.

“Why are you so kind Kim Namjoooooon?” Yuuri cooed dramatically clutching her heart, “You move me”.

Namjoon just giggled at her.

“Oh, you’re always so extra”, he teased, with a similarly dramatic roll of his eyes, “Such drama queen”.

“What are you talking about?” She feigned an offended look while dramatically falling over the backrest of her chair, “Meeeeee? A drama queen?”

“I definitely do not see anyone else who fits that description in this room”.

“I’m offended”.

“No, you like it”.

“How do you know me so well already?”

“A spiritual sixth sense I guess”.

“Wow, you have magical powers”.

“Girl, you don’t know a lot about me”.

“Can you apparate?”

“Wanna try?”

They left the parlour after more bickering and fits of giggles among each other, once again hitting the dry and deserted road. They walked in silence now. Not the usual awkward one but a more comfortable one. Namjoon couldn’t help but smile thinking back to the time they spent and one look through the corner of his eye told him Yuuri was smiling to herself too. And the smile on his face widened at that, exposing his dimples even more.

“Cute”, he heard Yuuri whisper.

“Huh?” He turned to her, unsure if he heard her right.

Yuuri looked at him, her expression that of a thief who got caught in the act, her cheeks covered in a soft pink blush. It made Namjoon blush too, but in his head, he wasn’t sure if she looked like that because of the cold weather or him.

“I just thought you looked cute with all those dimples”, Yuuri said, chuckling, laying her thoughts out loud now and skipped ahead in front of him.

Namjoon blushed so hard, he was sure his face turned as red as a tomato. He felt like time stopped ticking and he halted where he was walking. Was he hearing things? Did Yuuri just call him cute? Does that mean he has a slight chance of hope? Hope that she might like him too?

“Kim Namjoon!” Yuuri called out, cutting him out of his thoughts, gleefully waving at him from where she was walking, “You’re gonna get left behind if you keep daydreaming in the middle of the road!”

Shaking his head, he jogged up to her.

“You’re so unfair”, he breathed out stopping in front of her. Yuuri just stared at him quizzically. And when he looked at her face, into her eyes, the whole universe came stumbling down around him. Shattering, screaming, wailing and breaking. Yuuri was there, standing right in front of him, with barely any distance in between them. Her face, illuminated by the pale moonlight filtering through the thick cover of clouds in the sky. Her eyes twinkling as they reflected the countless stars, sparkling and glittering.  They were so close, he could just lean in and kiss her but he stands still, swept away by the scene in front of him.

He probably thought this a lot and he was thinking about it again.

“You’re beautiful”, He says, a mere whisper. But Yuuri caught it, the blush colouring her face confirmed it for him. And she looked away breaking their contact. He held his hand up instinctively and placed it on her cheeks, turning her head to face him. They were soft. So, so soft, like velvet and silk. A few bangs of her dark hair sprawled across her face blown by the wind. Namjoon smoothened them and tucked them behind her ear with his other hand. Would it be too early if he kissed her? The silver of a doubt that loomed within his chest held him back from initiating it. He didn’t want to scare her away. Hell, he couldn’t even fathom what’s going on in her mind now.

It all felt very intimate. Too intimate.

[facelessxchurch]

Church of the Faceless (Canon Info)

Here is all information I could find only skipping through the books, so I’ve probably missed something. If you notice something missing feel free to DM me and I’ll gladly add it!

Under the cut you’ll find all info I could find, plus quotes to proof my statements. Disappointingly enough I couldn’t find much information that wasn’t already widely known.

>>Click here for my headcanons on the Church of the Faceless<<

They believe the Faceless Ones will cleanse the world and their followers will be spared and live as their servants in this new world.

“Like his master before him, he believes some of our darker myths, our more disturbing legends. He believes the world was a better place when the Faceless Ones were in charge. They didn’t exactly approve of humanity, you see, and they demand worship.”

-Skulduggery about Serpine and the Facless Ones, “SP: The Sceptre of Ancients”, p.82ff

“How my lords and masters will reward me for my servitude is up to them. I would never presume to guess.“

“I get to be by their side when they raze this world, when they expunge the stain of humanity. And when it’s over, I get to bask in their terrible glory.“

-Serpine about the Faceless Ones, “SP: The Sceptre of Ancients”, p.218ff

“The creature on this table will open the gateway for its brethren and this world will be cleansed. The unworthy will be decimated and we will usher in a new paradise [..]“

-Vengeous to Valkyrie,  “SP: Playing with Fire”, p.193

“When the Faceless Ones return I will rule by their side.“

-Vengeous,  “SP: Playing with Fire”, p.324 

“Maybe they will rule, maybe they will scorch, maybe they will obliterate, or maybe they will just simply be. It is not our place to question them. A long time ago you told me that. You told me this world belongs to them. We’ve overseen it for millennia and now it’s time to give it back.”

-Gallow to China, ”SP: The Faceless Ones”, p.297

“Our Gods will reward our faith when they return and whipe the heretics from the face of the world”

-Prave about the Faceless Ones, ”SP: Dark Days”, p.299

“If the Faceless Ones deemed those disciples unworthy, so be it. We’ll just have to make sure that the rest of us are worthy of their love the next time they return“

-Eliza about Krav and Rose’s death,”SP: Death Bringer”  p.71

“I’m pretty sure Eliza views herself as some kind of pope figure, things she can lead the faithful into a world where the strong are rewarded and the weak are discarded.”

-Gallow about Eliza,”SP: Death Bringer”  p.206

They are searching for a ritual to allow the Facless Ones to return to the main Dimension (the Darklands).

“He has committed untold atrocities in order to uncover obscure rituals, searching for the one ritual that he, and religious fanatics like him, have been seeking for generations.”

-Skulduggery about Serpine, “SP: The Sceptre of Ancients”, p.79

They have to vow their servidude to the Faceless Ones. Most likely during some sort of baptism.

“You have sworn your allegiance to the dark gods. You cannot simply change your mind.”

-Baron Vengeous to China, “SP: Playing with Fire” p.74

“You are their servant, [...] If you will not uphold the vow you made on your own then I will do it for you. You will be there when the Faceless Ones return, even if it is just so you can be the first traitor they kill.”

-Vengeous talking to China, “SP: Playing with Fire” ,p.74

The Diablerie were a group of zealots, founded and led by China Sorrows that only stood below Mevolent. Though, it appears it was possible for the generals to request help from that group.

“The Diablerie was a group of the sickest fanatics Mevolent had at his disposal. A group that China founded and led. [...] When China left and became, to use her own word, neutral, Baron Vengeous took over, but it’s been 120 years since they’ve been considered a real threat. It’s been over 80 years since they were actually heard of.“

-Skulduggery about the Diablerie, ”SP: The Faceless Ones”, p.114ff

The Faceless symbol is a small circle 'barely intersecting' with a much larger circle. representing how the Faceless ones are essentially everything and we, humans are dirt and are not worthy of our gods.

“The big one represents the Faceless Ones. All- encompassing, all-knowing. The little one is us. floating around the edge, barely intersecting. It means we’re little more than fleas, unable to even comprehend the full majesty of existance. It’s very patronising, as far as religious symbols go, and somewhat self-pitying“

-Other Dimension, Skulduggery about the Faceless symbol, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.441

“Like the others, her family crest had been carved into the lid a scorpion atop three circles. The circles were said to represent the blank features of the Faceless Ones, while the scorpions stood for the indomitable will and immutable nature of China’s bloodline.”

-about China’s family crest, “SP: Last Stand of Dead Men”, p.203

The sacred text of the church is the Gospel of the Faceless.

“China asked, flicking through the book on the altar. It was a particulary battered edition of the Gospel of the Faceless, a moronic book written by a moron in an attempt to rationalise the behavior of his ilk.”

-how China view on the sacred text, ”SP: Dark Days”, p.297

The Faceless Church does not have religious holidays. (Tho this information may be outdated by now also Landy doesn’t know how religions/culture work apparently) [Source]

Batu/Paddy believed allowing a Faceless One to posses him would grant him magical powers, while China’s family believed they could control a Faceless One and harness its power should one posses them. It is possible that other disciples/families have similiar believes they kept secret from the other followers.

““You’re going to let a Faceceless One take you over.” “And then I’ll be brimming with magic that ordinary sorcers would never even dream about. They’re not gods, Valkyrie. They are as pathetic as the people you left behind in your old life. But me? I’ll be a true god.” “But it won’t be you. Your personality will be wiped clean. Even your body will be changed. You’re not ever going to know what’s it like to use magic.” “I’ll know,” said Bato softly. “There will be some part of me that stays, some part of me that joins with the Faceless One. I know it. I’m strong, you see? I was born without magic. I’ve had to be strong. My will is iron. I’m not going to be simply erased - not like the others.”“

-Batu talking with Valkyrie, ”SP: The Faceless Ones”, p.359 

“The arrogance of it all. China’s grandmother, a mere thirty years older than China’s mother, but two hundred years older than China, had taken it upon herself to school the children of the family in the ways of worship. The majority of those teachings were nothing if not standart - the Faceless Ones are the true rulers of the world, the mortals must be extingguished, sorcerers only exist to serve these wonderfully insane gods - the same rhetoric instilled in the minds of all disciples’ children. But China’s grandmother, who had in turn been taught by her grandmother, also passed down a particular addendum that was never spoken of to outsiders. The evenings China had spend with her brother Bliss, sitting by the fire while their grandmother explained the true realities of the Faceless Ones, that they were insane and that they were unpredictable, and according to legend they could take over a sorcerer’s body to use as they saw fit. Other sorcerers, China and her brother were told, were mere fodder for their gods - vessels waiting to be steered. But China’s family believed to be special. They believed the were different. They believed they were so strong and so clever that when the Faceless Ones took them over, they would retain control.”

- “SP: Last Stand of Dead Men”, p.203ff

The disciples seem to have at least some awareness of the true nature of their gods, since they know they require vessels as well as merely looking at them will drive you mad.

“Vakyrie frowned. “You’re offering up the rest of the Diablerie as vessels too.” “I didn’t want the Dark Gods wasting their time by seeking out suitable candidates. I just decided to make it easy for them.”“

-Batu talking with Valkyrie, ”SP: The Faceless Ones”, p.359 

““I looked into the face of a god,” she whispered, her eyes following Skulduggery. “And we all know what that does to you,” said Serpine.”

-”SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.484

Description of the Irish Chapel

“The walls were decorated with the paintings and iconography of the Dark Gods, and the main room contained an altar and a well worn carpet, where a handful of desperate disciples had kneeled and worshipped and prayed for the end of humanity.”

-description of the Faceless Church owned by Jajo Prave, ”SP: Dark Days”, p.297

Eliza as an example for a Faceless martyr/saint

“Vengeous’ wife wore a grey shapeless dress made of sackcloth and her bare feet were chained were chained at the ankles, forcing her to take small, quick steps. There was a small piece of wood hanging from a cord around her neck, into which were carved the two circles. With her hair shaved off and not a trace of make-up on her pale, drawn face, it took Valkyrie a moment to regonize her as Eliza Scorn.”“

-Other Dimension, Eliza’s attire, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.363

“My wife wears thos chains in penance for us all, to show the Faceless Ones that we are ready to be punished for what was done to them. She is a true believer. Her soul is righteous and pure, unlike yours.”

-Other Dimension, Baron about Eliza’s attire, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.365

“They used to do that in our dimension as well. There’d always be one fervent believer who took it upon themselves to suffer for our sins. It was meant to be altrustic and selfless, but I generally found those people to be nothing more than attention-seeking martyrs.”

-Other Dimension, Skulduggery about faceless martyrs, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.441

It seems that only heathens aren’t allowed to look at high ranking spiritual members of the faceless church, or even talk to them, unless spoken to.

““You are not to look the master in the eye,” he said. “Mevolent is the voice of the Faceless Ones on this earth and as such you have neither the right nor the honour to look upon his face. Any attempt to meet his gaze will be met with punishment. Do you understand?”“

-Other Dimension, Baron about Mevolent, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.370ff

““Stop the filthy creature from speaking to me!” “Oh, for God’s sake...” Scorn pushed her away. “God? God? You know not what a true god looks like! You are a blasphemer! You may not gaze upon me!” [...] She frowned over at Serpine. “And how come she’ll let you gaze upon her but not me?” “Because I’m not a blasphemer,” Serpine replied, as Scorn rose to her knees and clapsed her hands in a muttered prayer.”

-Other Dimension, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.485

They believe the Faceless Ones will judge them in Death.

“Life was nothing and nothing meant anything and everything was meaningless and she should just lie down and die. Just die, for God’s sake, and let the Faceless Ones judge her in death. Just lie down here and stop fighting and accept the end. But she didn’t worship the Faceless Ones. She didn’t believe they straddled life and death. She didn’t believe they would judge her. These weren’t her beliefs. These were the beliefs of the Sense-Wardens, the men and women surrounding her and forcing these rthoughts into her head.”

-Other Dimension, the Sense-Wardens attacking Darquesse, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.567

The Church is split into different sub-groups. The American branches’ puritan faction, Mevolent’s faction that hates mortals yet still wants to use them as servants, Creed’s side that wants to kill off all mortals and another one that tolerates mortals since apparently there is no mention in the Gospel of the Faceless that mortals should not be allowed to worship the Dark Gods as well. There appears to be another sub-fraction that worships the Half-Breeds, like the Unnamed, though this group may have been killed off entirely by Mevolent when he murdered the Unnamed and his family.

“Granted, Nocturnal’s people were a notoriously conservative bunch of prim and proper puritans who sought to drain the fun out of living, but their hearts were in the right place, all things considered.“

-Eliza’s thought about the American bracnch, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.148ff

The Faceless Church advocates human sacrifices. In this case the sacrifices were meant to serve as vessels for the Faceless Ones once they return.

-Temper talking to Creed, “SP: Midnight” p.251

Quote on some of the churches clothing. (Clergy & Cathedral Guards)

Other quotes I thought were relevant

“If my enemy is weakened then my enemy will be destroyed. Such is the way of the dark gods.“

-Vengeous, “SP: Playing with Fire” ,p.324 

“What’s wrong is that you are barely dressed. True believers pride modesty and humility above all other attributes save obedience. We do not try to overshadow or outshine our lords and masters by wearing tight or revealing clothing.”

-Nocturnal about Tanith’s outfit, “SP: Kingdom of the Wicked” p.170

“[...] It was the Faceless Ones who mined the crystal in the first place, this is true, but the Ancients made themselves invisible to its senses and thus immune to its power.“

-Echo Gordon about the Faceless Ones and the black crystals, ”SP: The Faceless Ones”, p.205