"I would not except a southern savage to appreciate the subtleties of the work I do," he replies, rather clipped, closing the space between where he stands and Subject Twenty-One's bench, bracing one hand against her forearm, so he can start to etch marks onto her arm with ink, a few inches above the elbow. "One does not presume. One proceeds only with evidence and facts."

A thought occurs to him as he catches that wince, and it makes him smile, grandfatherly once more. "Though perhaps you would be a little more compliant and forthcoming with details if these experiments were conducted before you? You could learn a little of my methodology."