Post by The Tanke Siblings on Oct 1, 2020 1:06:19 GMT
Truth be told, Rebecca Tanke-Grubb never expected her uncle's death to hit as hard as it did. She never really expected him to die so "soon," even knowing how much older he was.
Honestly, it hit her brother harder. Wilde Tanke, somewhere in the back of his mind, probably knew Ace wouldn't live forever but didn't necessarily believe that, deep down.
Their relationships with their late uncle were quite different, but they had him in common. They had a lot in common. Not just the funeral, but you could say that's where the latest chapters in both their lives started, all those months ago.
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Morbid to say, but Chicago in March was made for funerals. At least, that's how Wilde was seeing it months ago for his uncle's.
"Unka Rodney," as Wilde called him as a child. Or as a rookie wrestler. Sometimes lovingly and sometimes mockingly. Their relationship was always. . . interesting. He stared into the distance above him but saw something other than the gray-tinted Chicago skies.
Memories.
He could see memories if he closed his eyes. Almost, even if he didn't. Lots of memories.
Cold, gray, sluggish day. It fit well with how Wilde had been feeling lately.
After a while (long enough, anyway), another figure joined Wilde on the stone bench. Slightly taller, a muscular figure topped off with dark flaming hair. Not that Wilde had to look over to recognize his own sister.
They just sat there a while, quietly. Lost in their own thoughts, alone in a way. But together.
Like usual, in the ring or out.
Life passed in the distance. Their kids talking, reuniting with each other. With friends and family they hadn't seen in a while. Shelly kept herself busy, answering questions for her husband and sister-in-law, giving them a little time to themselves.
Shelly looked over at them, giving a slight reassuring smile. "I think we're going to give a few more words to the press. Hopefully it will help keep them from crowding us. You two look like you could use a little peace."
"Thanks," Rebecca answered dryly. Wilde just nodded.
After she took her leave, Wilde finally looked up from the muddy grounds. "Wonder who she has helping with her. Probably the kids."
It took Rebecca a few seconds to answer, lost in her own thoughts. "Maybe, but I think she means Stan. Guess Max could be helping her out."
"Ah." Wilde finally smirked, even though it was a short lived ghost of a smirk. "Weird havin' the two ex-hubbies here?"
"It's always weird," Rebecca finally answered. It was one of those conversations with long pauses and big Irish sighs and, based on the conversation at the moment, likely to stay that way. "But I'm in a good spot with them each. They're behaving themselves and it isn't like they don't have a reason to be here." She paused like she was thinking her words over. It's fine. Everything's fine. Great. Fine."
"Uh huh."
Rebecca bristled but forced herself to relax.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have you talked to Brandi or Christine? I mean, have you seen them? I wouldn't be surprised if they were here."
Wilde shook his head. "Nope. But there's a lot of people here, and I haven't really been talking to much of anyone. Too much to think about. Can't believe he's gone."
"Yeah." Rebecca paused a good long time. "Tell me about it."
Sometime minutes after, Wilde finally looked up at her. Sensing it, she raised her head and said, "We should meet up soon. Talk."
Wilde smiled again but for real this time. "Yeah. I was just thinking that. I think we know what about."
Rebecca just nodded. Too much to process. Too much to deal with.
But lots of planning to do.
Ace would want them to keep going. So lots to do.
Honestly, it hit her brother harder. Wilde Tanke, somewhere in the back of his mind, probably knew Ace wouldn't live forever but didn't necessarily believe that, deep down.
Their relationships with their late uncle were quite different, but they had him in common. They had a lot in common. Not just the funeral, but you could say that's where the latest chapters in both their lives started, all those months ago.
-----------------------
Morbid to say, but Chicago in March was made for funerals. At least, that's how Wilde was seeing it months ago for his uncle's.
"Unka Rodney," as Wilde called him as a child. Or as a rookie wrestler. Sometimes lovingly and sometimes mockingly. Their relationship was always. . . interesting. He stared into the distance above him but saw something other than the gray-tinted Chicago skies.
Memories.
He could see memories if he closed his eyes. Almost, even if he didn't. Lots of memories.
Cold, gray, sluggish day. It fit well with how Wilde had been feeling lately.
After a while (long enough, anyway), another figure joined Wilde on the stone bench. Slightly taller, a muscular figure topped off with dark flaming hair. Not that Wilde had to look over to recognize his own sister.
They just sat there a while, quietly. Lost in their own thoughts, alone in a way. But together.
Like usual, in the ring or out.
Life passed in the distance. Their kids talking, reuniting with each other. With friends and family they hadn't seen in a while. Shelly kept herself busy, answering questions for her husband and sister-in-law, giving them a little time to themselves.
Shelly looked over at them, giving a slight reassuring smile. "I think we're going to give a few more words to the press. Hopefully it will help keep them from crowding us. You two look like you could use a little peace."
"Thanks," Rebecca answered dryly. Wilde just nodded.
All sorts of wrestlers showed up for Ace's funeral, which meant there were press there, even a few fans. But security- and the aforementioned wrestlers and family- kept them back for the most part.
After she took her leave, Wilde finally looked up from the muddy grounds. "Wonder who she has helping with her. Probably the kids."
It took Rebecca a few seconds to answer, lost in her own thoughts. "Maybe, but I think she means Stan. Guess Max could be helping her out."
"Ah." Wilde finally smirked, even though it was a short lived ghost of a smirk. "Weird havin' the two ex-hubbies here?"
"It's always weird," Rebecca finally answered. It was one of those conversations with long pauses and big Irish sighs and, based on the conversation at the moment, likely to stay that way. "But I'm in a good spot with them each. They're behaving themselves and it isn't like they don't have a reason to be here." She paused like she was thinking her words over. It's fine. Everything's fine. Great. Fine."
"Uh huh."
Rebecca bristled but forced herself to relax.
"What about you?"
"What about me?"
"Have you talked to Brandi or Christine? I mean, have you seen them? I wouldn't be surprised if they were here."
Wilde shook his head. "Nope. But there's a lot of people here, and I haven't really been talking to much of anyone. Too much to think about. Can't believe he's gone."
"Yeah." Rebecca paused a good long time. "Tell me about it."
Sometime minutes after, Wilde finally looked up at her. Sensing it, she raised her head and said, "We should meet up soon. Talk."
Wilde smiled again but for real this time. "Yeah. I was just thinking that. I think we know what about."
Rebecca just nodded. Too much to process. Too much to deal with.
But lots of planning to do.
Ace would want them to keep going. So lots to do.