Ok...that's pointed but almost certainly confirms his assessment, in his mind. Herbert doesn't step back like Lapis but he's certainly not going to get closer to the water. He can't exactly reanimate himself, and he's yet to test his reagent on someone with water in their lungs anyway.

"I'd describe it as more of an...interest...?" he says, stopping short of correcting her to 'forensic pathology' or 'bioengineering'. It's a story, after all, not a textbook. "A fascination, perhaps."