Once the night’s dishes were all washed and stowed, Patience eyed the large tin basin leaning against the far wall of the kitchen. She loved this cottage, but at times she wished she lived in town and had access to proper amenities. Flush porcelain toilets and gas heated bathtubs seemed like a dream. She would give herself to the next man she saw to have a toilet in the house if it meant the treks through the yard to get to the outhouse would end.

She tilted her head down to her collarbone, at least as far as the skull would allow, and sniffed, “I suppose I am due for a bath.” She groaned as she stepped in front of the tub. Foggy tendrils reached out to its handles.

“Allow me,” said Anax as he lifted it onto the floor. It fit just in the corner by the water barrel, there was barely room to step around it for Patience to fill pots and kettles.

“Th-thank you.”

Patience began boiling water in whatever receptacle could be filled and heated on the stove. She stoked the fire to a full burn, more wood at the ready stacked beside the black iron legs. As the first pot came to a bubble, the girl gripped it with two rags. Wordlessly, Anax assisted her once again by carrying the heavier pots. Moreover he was unperturbed by the searing heat and grabbed the pots straight off the stove. He was proving to be more and more useful.

Eventually the tub was filled and steaming. Patience undressed and let her braid loose. She stepped into the tub, legs melting into a shifting mirage underwater. Scrunching into a seated position with her knees peeking above the surface, the girl soaked for a few minutes. The warmth flowed across her skin and deep into her muscles. Steam drifted away from the surface in a swaying dance. It took a while before she reached for the cloth and chunk of soap she had earlier placed on the seat of a chair to begin cleaning herself.

Soapy water splashed over the sides of the basin. No matter. She will just use it to mop the kitchen floor after she was done. Anax watched Patience scrub all over her body with a trained eye. Patience was keenly aware, but focused on completing the task at hand. Once she was clean from the neck down, she paused.

“Um, do you mind if I dunk my head—you under the water for a second?”

“Go on.”

Patience slowly dipped her head and the skull. Bubbles loudly escaped the cavity of the skull as she felt Anax’s grip keeping his skull around her head. However, his grip felt different. She resurfaced to inspect it. His tendril now appeared more solid and slick in appearance, like an aspic.

“Wh-what happened to you?” asked Patience.

“When the surrounding humidity increases, I naturally solidify.”

Patience knelt in the tub to feel Anax cascade over her back. Normally he would be a misty cape, tips flicking and lapping like candlesmoke . Currently he was a slimy curtain, his oozing edges creeping down her skin. She rested back into the water.

“I … will have to get used to that.”

Silently shocked at yet another new trait of this creature, she reached under Anax’s skull to wash her face. Still, one of his worst traits was his presence over her head. It did not facilitate hair washing very well. Her fingers started to clumsily comb through her locks when she felt a viscous coil stop her hand.

“I’ll do it.”

“Oh! Thank you!” Patience sputtered.

“It’s unpleasant when you fumble around the inside of my skull. I will wash your hair and scalp for you.”

“All right then,” the girl scoffed playfully. Having less work to do was always appreciated. She reclined in the tub with her legs dangling outside the bath, the waterline lapping at her chin. Shiny swaths of hair floated around her, nearly black in the lone light hanging above the dining table. 

Anax started with her scalp. It felt strange feeling his jelly-like tendrils run over the burn. He then proceeded raking her hair with several tendrils at once, making short work of it. Slick with soap, her tresses glided smoothly between his ropes. Patience almost felt like a nap, the comforting passes he made through her hair was enough to lull her into a tranquil meditation.