The puppeteer rolled his shoulder, the joints clicking in their sockets, a tic of Kankuro's annoyance breaking through the façade of his irritableness and a slip of emotion he wouldn't be able to get back.. but he could reel it in, and reel it in he would.

"I'm still taking all I can get," Kankuro repeated, nearly through gritted teeth. His jaw was firm, set; defiant or terrified. "It's better to be above the bar than below it."