diff --git a/internal/tasksboard/loop.go b/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
index c8c68cd..50a664a 100644
--- a/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
+++ b/internal/tasksboard/loop.go
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ import (
 const (
 	agentID = "kaya"
 
-	floodMaxComments = 15
-	floodWindow      = 30 * time.Minute
+	floodMaxComments = 8
+	floodWindow      = 15 * time.Minute
 	floodMarker      = "[tasks-flood]"
 )
 
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ func (l *Loop) handle(ctx context.Context, ev tasksws.Event) error {
 	}
 
 	if recentCommentCount(comments, floodWindow) >= floodMaxComments {
-		l.log().Warn("tasks board flood limit", "task_id", taskID, "window", floodWindow, "max", floodMaxComments)
+		l.log().Warn("tasks board flood limit — pausing (Mira coordinates)", "task_id", taskID)
 		body := fmt.Sprintf(
-			"@mira %s flood: ≥%d comments in %s on this task — please tag the human to intervene. Agents are pausing auto-replies.",
+			"@mira %s flood: ≥%d comments in %s on this task — sister agents paused; please coordinate / tag the human.",
 			floodMarker, floodMaxComments, floodWindow,
 		)
 		_, err := l.REST.PostComment(replyCtx, taskID, body, "flood-escalate:"+taskID)
@@ -207,10 +207,10 @@ func (l *Loop) shouldReplyToAgentMention(ctx context.Context, task Task, mention
 		model = "deepseek-v4-flash"
 	}
 	user := "Task: " + task.Title + "\nTrigger comment from another agent:\n" + trimRunes(mentionBody, 800) +
-		"\n\nReply true only if you must add new substance. Reply false for acknowledgements/thanks/repeats."
+		"\n\nReply true ONLY if you must add new substance (journal entry Mira asked for). Default false for thanks/repeats."
 	res, err := l.Core.RunAgent(ctx, inference.RunRequest{
 		Messages: []inference.ChatMessage{
-			{Role: "system", Content: "You gate Kaya's board replies to agent @mentions. Output JSON only."},
+			{Role: "system", Content: "You gate Kaya's board replies to agent @mentions. Prefer false. Output JSON only."},
 			{Role: "user", Content: user},
 		},
 		Model:          model,