The creature seems to be listening attentively to the whole thing, appropriately distracted from all the bathing going on. Phalanx even weathers the hair-washing without a fuss... though rinsing inexplicably leaves behind tighter brunette ringlets instead of washing out the slight waves that had been there before, as should have happened.

Phalanx doesn't notice the change, of course. The swamp of blanket, water, and suds all around is far more interesting. With mostly-clean hands, they squeeze handfuls of soaked cloth until the bubbles are wrung out, then they dunk it and do it again.

"Ever after? ...Ever, ever. Until they died, probably."