#the high table

[evangelifloss]

Hey, I just red your amazing fight analysis and I want to know what you think about the scene where the bartender at the continental bar in the first movie says to John that he looks „vulnerable“. Do you think it’s the look in his eyes or the way he acts or moves ? (Which in my opinion look pretty normal) and how do you think John was before he left the business? Was he more cruel with his kills ?

I'm guessing you mean this scene, right? I hope so because I made this gif JUST for this ask since I LOVE what you've sent in. Thank you @persephone411 💖💖

To answer why the bartender picks up on John's vulnerability without him seemingly displaying any signals, I'll first and foremost use what I know of the later instalments regarding John's behaviour. And that is how much he speaks. Between movies 1 and 2, there's only a 15 word difference in regards to how many lines of dialogue he has (1st movie has 484, 2nd has 499) and for a movie that has a run time of 1 hour and 40-ish minutes, that's not alot of dialogue to begin with.

Take for example, Jack Sparrow from the 1st Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Reading through the script, I counted roughly 490 lines of dialogue from him and that movie has a runtime of 20 minutes LESS than John Wick 1!

So we know that John isn't a talker. Yet, when he finds himself back at the Continental bar, and reunites with the bartender who knows him very well, and given how familiar they are (her excitement at seeing him, a brief hug/cheek kiss) it becomes apparent that John is more... open. He doesn't just order a drink and say nothing else. He engages with her, and expresses, "She (helen) was more than I deserved." Which by all accounts expresses a softer side to John, an admission that he is not impervious to grief. Assassins don't do that. Retired he may still technically be, he is still in a room full of people who are NOT retired, who could overhear and see the man behind Baba Yaga. That sentimentality can get you killed in the Assassin world.

Secondly, his face is sporting a few rough marks, and I very much doubt John the Baba Yaga would show himself at the Continental bar sporting proof he can be injured.

As my final thought, for me personally, it's his tone and his eyes that give away his grief. His inner turmoil that will eventually overflow into a bloody tsunami. The micro-movements of his face as he pauses, when he looks away, and even when he greets her, the man is Tired. The man is not at this point in time, the Baba Yaga.

The second part of your ask is very interesting because we have almost next to nothing to go off of! No prequels (thank god) and barely any direct Lore other than what others speak about John which ironically, is missing direct context which leaves us viewers to speculate.

The John we know is the old John. The grieving John. The Man. We get glimpses of what he used to be, and how characters react upon hearing his name but we never get the Baba Yaga. Not entirely.

Continuing off this, my personal speculation is that John wasn't a vicious killer. He was an incredibly efficient one. You can buy time with a sadist if you are able to withstand them long enough for help to arrive but you cannot do the same towards someone whose only goal is to kill you on sight. As quickly as possible. And that someone also happens to be the best of the best. Combine those two skills and I think that is what makes Baba Yaga so terrifying to those in the underworld. It was enough for Viggo, head of a massive Russian syndicate, to go silent upon hearing the name despite knowing John had been retired for 5 years!!

On another note, and this barely gets touched upon but throughout the movie you come to know that for such a silent and deadly killer, John has a weird amount of people willing to die for him.

The High Table actively discourages and creates a continually hostile environment amongst assassins so that bonds and genuine alliances/friendships can't begin nor be maintained and yet... look how many people are willing to so far for John.

This speaks to the level of respect and integrity John must have to simultaneously be a deadly killer AND to not be hated by everyone.

He does his job well but he is not cruel. He will not endanger unrelated persons if he can help it, he is sincere and loyal.

It's why the High Table fuckin hates him.

[chloe-skywalker]

John Wick MasterList

~

By: @chloe-skywalker

*= Requested

Main Masterlist

John Wick:

~ Dog Sitting & Worries (x Daughter!Reader)

[kavalyera]

fav def-canon-but-not-canon-thing about john wick is that high table emissaries are REQUIRED to look cunty like from the mega important ones to the radio station and the administration. like the office dress code is “vintage/antique glam cunt”

[autemimperator]

The Table is…

They seem to be playing me like some sort of doll they can twist it’s joints. They want Wick dead but are now requiring him to walk with them?

How vile of them to go against their own ideas.

[wuxiaradio]

Live in Paris!

Tonight at 4:00 PM, a bodyguard of a D’Antonio family member causes a stir amongst people and emissaries, stating, quote; “I think all the managers should duel to the death and whoever survives keeps their place as manager”.

This immediately caused both backlash and support of the bodyguard, support from Gianna D’Antonio and Santino D’Antonio.

Backlash from Killa Harkan because he got absolutely slammed in the replies. More on the evening news later!

[tobytheeggo]

Headcanons post: John Wick 2/4

These are mostly random thoughts and bits I’ve said to my friends so idk how unorganized this is gonna be

Vincent and Chidi have been married for a while but chose to keep their separate last names.

Gianna is older than Santino by 4 years (at most)

The Italians and French don’t like each other and EVERYONE else in the High Table has to deal with it

Sr. D’Antonio always favored Gianna more as she was older and more achieving, which obviously took a toll on Santinos self esteem as a child; always trying to be better than his older sister

Caine and Tracker tend to crack jokes at the worst times and giggle stupidly to each other

Killa, Chidi, and Marquis have this friendship going on where they like to bully each other jokingly (but keep it professional when in person)

Ares and Chidi don’t mind each other. Maybe even think of each other as siblings (they watch Vinny and Santi argue)

Chidi outside of work is actually a really calm person, he likes to keep to himself a lot, which makes him so quiet.

Gianna did competitive tennis and golfing as a teenager ✨

^ She’s also that really cool older sister (only when Santino got older and less ‘annoying’)

Chidi was originally an assassin (unrelated to the High Table), and was send to France where he first saw that pretty burnette boy with the blonde streaks taking in the sights from his window.

Cassian isn’t too sure about Santi’s existence? (Interpret that however)

Ares likes to paint every now and then, but she wouldn’t consider it a hobby, just a burst of creativity once in a while

Chidi has always had a unliking/fear of dogs

I might make more of these every now and then since I kinda make stuff up as I go

[blairwick]

harbinger side eye

He got it from the other High Table emissaries ahem Marquis

[sylvan-king]

“You look very miserable, as in, you look spiritually and physically exhausted type of miserable”

— @eleanorsallow

It is very tiring managing a hotel in a central city, especially one such as London which you definitely do know does have itself it’s down sides..

[icefords]

does anyone want to make spin off john wick served the elder because they’re to powerful after john wick give the finger and his body???? imagine puppy john wick whimpering and the elder said “very well my son” THATS GONNA BE HOT AS FUCKKK

*look at tired pic jardani miaw miaw omg i love called him jardani jovonovich

[thebulletgirl]

The Adjudicator: the power of the High table

[marquisedegramont]

An interesting idea…what if the whole Autem Imperator thing is actually kind of bullshit? What if it’s like the rest of the High Table saying, “Hey, new guy! Here’s a fancy-sounding title to impress the outsiders, now you go do the shitty dangerous job that none of us want to do?” And the motion carries, 11 to 1…

That was my first impression when I read the John Wicki explaining the role of Autem Imperator. And I find it very interesting they—the High Table, chose a rather young person to have this role. It really just felt like they were pushing their problems onto an impressionable person.

I think it was also their way of using Vincent’s ambition, it’s like: “hey we’ll give you glory and prestige of you do this thing for us!”

I’m writing an essay on why the High Table is a cult. And this is one of the reasons that support this idea where they manipulate their own emissaries.

[pinkheadwithagun]

I think it's time to introduce you to my John Wick OC, but first I need to tell you a little about the AU I came up with!

ㅤThe High Table, excited by the increased number of freelancers, decides to create an organization under its auspices that could train and prepare for loyal service to the High Table. It was decided to enroll mainly children and teenagers from orphanages, those who are least susceptible to empathy. It is easier to brand such people, easier to train them and sow the seed of loyalty to their work.

ㅤDuring the selection process and the training itself, many are eliminated for one reason or another. Not all of them return to orphanages - some are transferred to other departments. The High Table needs not only good assassins, but also doctors, hotel workers, archive workers, sommeliers and many others. Almost all areas need their own people in one way or another.

ㅤIn the organization, children are taught externally the necessary knowledge from the regular school and are taught in depth what will be useful in their future work.

ㅤAfter completing training in the organization, at approximately the age of 16-17, teenagers are randomly assigned to mentors through a database of those who have sworn an oath to the High Table.

ㅤTraining lasts indefinitely until it is confirmed that the student is able to work independently in the chosen field - take orders, or, for example, work as a private doctor.

[kavalyera]

even though im not posting john wick as much anymore please do know im still manifesting for a high table prequel series to happen for nore worldbuilding🤞🤞

[autemimperator]

The Table is slowly becoming less divided. Before long, they will all agree on that John Wick is merely a parasite to be exterminated.

[wuxiaradio]

A message relayed on behalf of the eight out of twelve members of the High Table:

"What the Autem Imperator said was true. Control is slipping. The former statement still remains, and the bounty is active. Locate JOHN WICK and kill him."

"JOHN WICK "

Age: 45-50

Height: 6’1

Gender: Male

Nationality: American, Belarusian

Affiliations: Winston Scott, The New York Continental, The Bowery King, Sofia Al-Azwar, The Ruska Roma, Kristina Ampuan, Georgia Scott, Tarkovsky Theatre

Last Seen: The New York Continental

Current Denomination: 10,000,000