She began pulling the soggy, stained clothes from out of the washing machine, trying not to shudder from the texture. The human did not go away. When finally Pearl looked up, she found the human staring at her, hands on hips, one eyebrow raised.

“You really look like you could use some help.”

“Fine,” said Pearl, if only to get her to go away.

Because of course she needed help. Pearl needed help with everything on Earth. Why should this be any different?

The chore went quicker with the human’s assistance, and soon all the (pink) clothes had been transferred to one of the driers on the other side of the laundromat. Before they closed the drier door, the human pulled out a frilly red garment from the pile. “Aha! I think I found our culprit.”

“I did not put that in there!” Pearl protested.

The human shrugged. “Someone must’ve left it in there by mistake.”

“How incompetent,” Pearl muttered. “And inconsiderate.”

“People can be jerks,” the human said, and Pearl could not help but nod in agreement.

The task was done. But still, the human did not leave.

Pearl wished she could leave. But until the clothes were dry, she could not.

“First time with laundry?” the human asked.

“Yes,” said Pearl.

“It can be tough,” the human agreed. “I was always used to my Gunga doing it.”

Pearl did not know what a ‘gunga’ was, and was not about to ask.

And the human started chattering on. About-- things. Ridiculous human things. ‘Moving out’ and ‘part time jobs’ and ‘needing space’ and it was banal and annoying and distracting--

“-- and I told Daddy, I know it’ll be cheaper to live at home, but I don’t want to deliver pizza for my whole life, so now I’m working at this music store--”

“Why did you help me?” Pearl asked suddenly.

It shut the human up for a moment. She blinked. “Cuz I wanted to? Also, like, there’s not anything else to do but browse my phone, so why not?”

Pearl stared at her.

You never just helped someone because ‘you wanted to’. There was always a reason. An agenda. An expectation that you’d be paid back.

“Hey, look,” the human said. “You’re related to Steven Universe, yeah?”

“I live with him, yes,” Pearl admitted, not understanding the sudden shift in topic.

The human snapped. “Thought so! You’re like, the spitting image of his-- parent, I guess? Pearl, I think her name is.”

“I’m aware.”

“So look. Name’s Jenny. I’m a friend of Steven. So I wasn’t just gonna leave ya there.”

Pearl could understand this. If this Jenny was in an alliance with Steven Universe, then aiding her was merely maintaining that alliance.

“So, hey, why’re you here, if ya don’t mind me asking?” said the human Jenny. “Doesn’t Steven have a washing machine at his place?”

“Yes. It is broken. I offered to clean his clothes while it was being repaired.”

She had offered, because she had wanted to be helpful. To actually do something. And she had failed. Such a basic task, and she couldn’t even do that. 

Failed.

What would the other Pearl think of her? What would Steven? He would be so upset, he’d probably yell-- he’d never trust her again, perhaps he’d even punish her, it would be within his rights--

A Pearl should not let her fears and uncertainties show. But evidently she’d failed at that too, because the human reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. Pearl barely stopped herself flinching away.

“Hey,” Jenny said, soft. “Look. So the underwear is pink. Big deal. Steven loves pink. Also, he’s like, the nicest person I know. It’s going to be just fine.”

Pearl took a moment to collect herself.

She reflected over the human’s words.

She was, perhaps, right. Steven Universe was not like any other Gem. He was...

... nice.

Very slowly, Pearl nodded.

“I appreciate your assistance,” she said.