Chapter 49 The Cat Is Tired Of Everyone’s Shit
The Cat Is Tired Of Everyone’s Shit
DELILAH
“We will take suggestions. However, out of the respect that you’re asking for and not showing me, I’m going to tell you this nicely before we continue.
Stop talking as if I’m not here. Personally, I would also appreciate it if you stopped making my personal life a community issue.
Whereas Amanda has every right to state she doesn’t like to feel threatened, I have every right to not be discussed like an object. ”
The women stare at me, and I walk over to the bar to pour a scotch, gulping it and pouring another. I’m not done with them, though. I rub my hand over my tummy while I rake my gaze over the crowd.
“Also, I need to point out that every single person here is ignoring a basic truth. It doesn’t matter if the ‘don’t touch’ statements apply solely to sexual advances or not.
Every single occupant of this community should be able to say they don’t want to be touched—for any reason, stated or unstated—and have that demand respected.
Your feelings of being unwelcome do not trump anyone’s body autonomy.
Abusers use emotional blackmail to force unwanted contact on their victims. Are you suggesting we force people to allow us access to their bodies because it makes you more comfortable in your relationship with them? ”
Lily blanches as she realizes she missed the substance in Amanda’s argument. They’re demanding Talia not delineate acceptable contact with our family because they feel they should get to touch me so they feel ‘accepted’. Her face pales and she mouths an apology to me.
Michaela gasps. “I hugged you when I came in. Was that okay?”
“Of course,” I smile at her. “I would have said something if it wasn’t. I’m not saying no one can ever hug me again, and I don’t think Talia or Taurus are either. My problem lies with people stating they get to decide what is comfortable for others based on their needs.”
“We could add threats and acceptable contact to the town bylaws to address that,” Lily says, scribbling in her notebook.
Doubtful that it will help, but it’s a start, I suppose.
Talia storms over, looking ready to beat someone now that she’s had her quiet moment.
“People, it was a damn internet post. Did I threaten one person when they came into the party and Rafe greeted them? Did Taurus grab someone and shake them for hugging Deli when they came out of the magick room?” They shake their heads ‘no,’ and she puts her hands on her hips.
“You’re accepting Amanda’s statement as if it’s valid, though she wasn’t present when most people arrived.
When she finally showed up, it was part of a rude, unplanned stunt orchestrated by a group who threatened and disparaged the hosts of the party.
It broke up an event the Maison folks had spent months planning.
Their bullshit made Deli’s family upgrade security measures at this house—which you’ve all commented on. ”
I look up from my drink to spear them with my glare.
“The boys were upset because they had worked hard to make it spectacular for everyone. Rafe was disappointed that his birthday party got destroyed. Given the circumstances, we were both distraught about the—unveiling. However, I won’t focus on issues I have with specific community members, their families, and former members regarding it.
Talia and I will work to keep the threatening language down, and if the bylaws need updating, Lily and I will do so. ”
“Fine,” Talia says. “I’ll ratchet back the bitch factor as much as possible.”
“Save it for me, darling,” Sari says, grinning.
It takes everything in me—including my bright little star—to keep me from slapping that smile right off her traitorous face.
“But if one of my family members talks to Deli, how do I know they won’t get threatened?” Rita asks, looking over at us like a scared dog.
Again with me—this woman is eerily obsessed, and I don’t know why. “I thought I covered this, but I have no issue with people talking to me.”
“For me, it’s all about sexual intent, Rita. Some mild flirting would be okay, but other things would not. I am comfortable making myself clear, though,” Talia grumbles, tossing back what’s left of her drink.
That’s an understatement.
“I have my family for that stuff, but I do want to talk to people and get to know them.” The unshakable twat gives my mate a stubborn look as if anyone believes she wants to ‘get to know’ anyone other than me.
Tamara snorts. “Don’t take this wrong, Talia, but I don’t think anyone is trying to have sex with you or Taurus.”
My smile is ghoulishly evil. “I don’t know if I’d agree with that, Tamara.” I give her a pointed look and slide my gaze to Sari. “People do things in private that I don’t publicize in meetings for everyone to hear about, but I know.”
Lily holds up the stick. “I have a question. Since this seems to be a bone of contention that some feel uncomfortable navigating without a net, how about we create an addendum to our community profiles—individually—that list everything from basic info to specific ways they prefer to interact with the community?”
“I’d be willing to do that,” Rita says, looking relieved for the first time all night. “That’s a great plan, Lily.”
Yeah, super awesome to put the work on those of us who are able to speak up for ourselves to suit you being a ninny.
“Does that resolve this topic, Amanda? Have we given this due weight?” I look at her, waiting for her to agree or make another complaint.
“I’m good,” Amanda says, shrugging. “At least as good as I can be until I see if people follow up on their promises.”
“Sari, you have the floor again.” Lily hands her the stick and waits.
“I said that I want to fix the community. I realize now that we’re never going back to how it was. So, I’m all in on rebuilding. I’ll donate time and whatever else to help. Does that make sense?”
“What do you see as problems, though? How do you see this rebuild happening? What does it look like to you?” I raise my brows, using Lily’s reframing questions to get her to admit what I know: she envisions the re-build exactly like what we had before.
Sari is predictable in her inability to see anything in a light she doesn’t choose.
“We need to define what our community is about. If that’s what Deli keeps calling us, we need a better idea of what purpose it serves. I, for one, hadn’t seen us like that in the entire time I’d been here.”
“It’s always how I’ve seen this place.” My gaze is steady on my ex-friend lying through her teeth to serve her agenda, but I stop there.
Sari kicks back and shrugs. “I think we need to agree on why we are here. After that, we can analyze how we all relate and rebuild from there. Every community has a focus.”
Many people nod and I groan. We all know why we’re here. Everyone moved to the Rift to escape the other place for various reasons. Some people have personal baggage to hide from, and some of us want a different life.
“We all live here because it makes us feel special. Part of the problem right now comes from a feeling that someone else should make us feel special. If they don’t, people get upset,” Sari says. “Relying on any one person to do that for us is bad.”
No shit, Sherlock. Tell me something I don’t know.
“We all live here because it makes us feel special. Part of the problem right now comes from a feeling that someone else should make us feel special. If they don’t, people get upset,” Sari says. “Relying on any one person to do that for us is bad.”
My brows furrow as I consider why she’s saying that. This rebellion is all about her, but also about gaining control over the people she wants under her thumb. What is she getting at by suggesting it shouldn’t be about one person?
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t be nice and do things for each other, but when I have had genuine moments of despair here, it was because I expected someone else to make me feel special and they failed. I’m certain all of you have felt that way here.”
“Me, too,” chime in Rita and Tamara.
Jesus. Are they kidding me?
I sigh. “Look, everyone has hard times. I don’t mean to sound harsh, but life is like that.
The problem lies in expecting others to make you feel special.
It’s worse when the people you expect to help have no idea that you want or need it.
The best solution is for people to talk.
No one can give you what you need if they don’t know you need it. ”
“We covered this,” Sari retorts. “It’s not that simple.”
“Talking can help, but not if the people you’re speaking to ignore you or choose to misunderstand your concerns.” Tamara stands this time, padding over to retrieve another one of her bottles of wine.
“I think we’ve reached a point where we question the true meaning behind each other’s words.” Sari walks over and grabs some food, giving Tamara a smile. “The actual issue is, how do we rebuild trust?”
“I want this place to be what it was,” Tamara says wistfully.
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Sari says. “But we can rebuild trust. It’s difficult, but it can be done.”
“For me, knowing that people told others not to associate with some community members makes it hard for me to trust.” The redhead drops that bomb and heads for her chair, leaving everyone agape.
Oh, so that’s why she’s on about cliques—Sari has twisted it so things she said are attributed to others. How clever of her.
“Maybe if we let go of past slights, we can move on together?” Marina pipes up.
I smile at her. “There have been a ton of slights against a ton of people over time—some known, some unknown, some imagined, and some made up. Moving on from them would be the best outcome.”
“If we want this community to survive, we have to let them go,” the oft-missing woman says.
“It’s not as simple as that, Marina. Without resolution, people can’t move on. I’ll try, but I can’t guarantee anything.” Sari drops back into her chair next to Amanda, and I realize that everyone re-arranged the chairs to form groups while I wasn’t paying attention.
“What do you need for resolution on this topic?” I ask carefully.
We’ll never get out of here if she doesn’t tell us this one damn thing.
“The people with personal issues need to go to their respective corners and deal with it.” Amanda reaches over and steals Sari’s beer.
“To apologize.” Sari grins and swipes the beer back.
I want to puke again. That’s super cute, but I’m not apologizing to Sari for anything, ever.
Other people start handing out apologies, and I want to stab myself in the eye. This fixes nothing, but I have to take part or I’ll look like I’m dismissing their suggestions. “I apologize for seeming unavailable and not knowing that some people felt slighted.”
“Nothing personal, but if you ladies on the council want the community to be better, you need to set the tone. It may not be fair, but what you do is viewed differently than a normal person. Keep in mind—you have to model what you want to see.” Sari gives me a satisfied look, thinking she’s boxed me into a corner.
My eyes narrow. “I understand leaders lead, and don’t refuse to take the stick because they feel the surrounding people are unworthy of their genius. However, I will not have my private life dictated to me by anyone.”
“Tamara, you’re last,” Lily interrupts. Her face says we need to end this meeting before one of us murders the rest of them.
“Do I get the stick?”
“Yes,” I reply as I toss it to her. “You do. Thanks for asking.”
“Not to rehash, but Rita has a point about cliques. I haven’t been anywhere so ‘grade school’ since grade school.
That might be perception, and approaching more people might help.
A lot of the problems originate from one person, as I told Deli previously.
I have not resolved those issues, but I want this place to be somewhere I love again, so I’m willing to let it go. ”
She pauses for a moment and continues. “The lack of communication between new people and the current residents is horrible. I want people to talk to someone if they have a problem, not to tell others not to associate with them. Now, I’m done.”
I look at Sari, who was definitely the one who spread that rumor.
What she didn’t relay to anyone was that Tamara was being inappropriate with every clone or droid she met.
She acted as if she was cruising the strip in Vegas for an escort.
It was creepy, and she did not take gentle brush-offs for an answer.
She caused that problem by treating our families like fresh meat.
And lots of people complained to the Council in private.
Talia brushes off her pants as she ditches her glass on the bar. “Okay, ladies. Are we done here? I think we’ve beaten everything into the ground, and while I’m all for that most days, I’d like to get home to my husband.”
I nod. “I think we are. Everyone?” I look around at the nodding heads. “Good. See you all in a month? I am committing to a meeting once a month so we can work together.”
“That’s a great idea!” Tamara grins.
Feeling Talia’s eyes on me, I force a smile at them.
“Maybe next month we’ll allow all citizens to attend?
I, too, want to get back to my spouse because, honestly?
I’ve a yen to eat some people and get laid.
” Lily’s eyes widen and I shrug. “Hell, woman, they all know I’m pregnant.
That’s the total of what I want at all times right now. ”
“Not true! Sometimes you want sparklies,” Talia grins happily.
“Okay, fine, but I am going to eat people and get laid. I will see you all next month!”
I wink at them and pop out before anyone can argue.
Take that, you whiny bitches.