Arrow Lake didn't see that coming

She was surprised at Mesa's telling of events, although her expression remained unreadable as she kept her eyes trained on Kazimir. He had certainly looked upset when she arrived, and she didn't think he had ever lied to her before, at least not that she had ever found out about. What he was accusing her of doing didn't quite fit, though. Taki still hadn't decided if the other woman was worth the second chance Mahler had so graciously offered her, but she found it hard to believe she would try to kill one of her children. She wanted to take Mesa at his word simply because he was hers, but she wasn't blind to the fact that children could sometimes be manipulative. He pressed against her, and she turned her head to study his face. The mention of his father stung, momentarily stealing her reason and making her want to lash out at the other woman—tear her down for upsetting her son even if it didn't actually seem to be only her fault. But being Kapitän and Mesa's mother meant she couldn't act on her flare of anger; it would be impulsive and she would lose the upper hand in the end.

Her calculating gaze rested back on Kazimir as she spoke. She didn't think Mesa's opinions were necessarily wrong; they were maybe a little extreme, but there was some truth there. But telling her all these things didn't serve him in any way. All it had done was cause a pointless fight. She would talk to him after this about keeping judgments to himself unless there was a reason to point them out. He was better than most—he was of her and Stigmata—but aimelessly insulting those who were less only made you look petulant; there was a time and place for it. Mesa, she said first, shooting him a sideways glance before meeting Kazimir's eyes again. Do you think I would believe that anyone in this pack would be stupid enough to try and kill one of my children? It would certainly be their last act on this earth. Kazimir's..disappearance does look bad, but Mahler has accepted her back, so we must give her a chance to prove herself. She looked back to Mesa, eyebrows raised. This time, she was imploring him to give her a chance to explain things better in private.

Then she took a step towards Kazimir, face hardening and fire seeping into her eyes as she fixed the other woman with a menacing glare. I'll take care of things from here, she started, voice deceptively calm as her temper flared. But don't ever harm my son again. The threat behind the warning was clear. Stigmata's death was hard on everyone, her children most of all, and she didn't need someone putting them in their places, especially someone she didn't necessarily trust was loyal to Diaspora.

She turned to her son then. Let's go, Mesa, she ordered, expression warning him from objecting; now was not the time for discussion. Unless Kazimir said anything else, she would escort her child away. A long talk was in order for them.