They say when your about to die your life flashes before your eyes. The fact that Perri Diamond was currently watching a highlights reel of her life right now did not help her already flayed nerves, AT ALL. She heard the murmurs of the crowd hidden from her on the other side of the curtain that at any moment would open providing a space for her to step through. She had practiced, her friends gave her tips and advice. Amethyst said to just have fun with it, Garnet said to just be herself, Pearl told her that when she was in the moment it all come naturally, but Lapis had simple smiled and said "I'll be watching" and winked at her. She didn't know if that made her feel better or worse. The music was loud and she could see the flashing lights from the gapes in the curtain. The other girls all made this look so easy. Walking out there and claiming the attention of every pair of eyes in the room but that wasn't her.

'No that's not Perri. Perri would never be able to do this, hell Perri would never even be standing her wearing … this. Tonight you are Peridot a Crystal Gem Girl and no matter what she was going to go out there and amaze everyone.'

While she didn't know if that was Lapis, Garnet, or hell her own self confidence speaking up for the first time in her twenty-three years of life she was grateful for the pep talk. Still her nerves ate away at her, and while she knew it was a bad ideal her feet carried her to the side of the curtain for a peek out at the crowd. She looked out and meet eyes with someone in the crowd. Someone who knew her well enough to know she wouldn't be able to resist peeping out.

Lapis Lazuli locked eyes with her a smirk on her lips after a moment she gave Perri a thumbs up and then the hawaiian girl winked and blew Perri a kiss.

Perri yanked the curtain shut hopping she had moved fast enough to disappear before Lapis saw her furious red blush that blossomed from her cheeks all the way to her shoulders. She had been looking right where Perri stuck her head out like some sort of damn physic. She knew Perri would get nervous and peep out.

'Wait she may have know I was going to look but how did she know which part of the curtain I would look out from.'

Perri pondered for a moment before an ideal struck her.

'Did Lapis ever get nervous? Did she know where I'd peek out because she herself had pulled that same bit curtains to the side?'

It seemed unfathomable that a goddess like Lapis Lazuli the club's staring performer would be nervous. That her lovely sun kissed skin, her vibrant blue hair and her confident personality might not be enough, might be inadequate. The more Perri thought about it the more it made sense. Lapis may look perfect to her but she had insecurities of her own. The scar running down her back from a surfing accident. Her thin frame that reminded her too much of the shell of a person she'd become when she use to drugs.

She heard the classic rock music begin through the speakers. This song was before the one she'd picked to perform to. 'Come Sail Away' by Styx. A unorthodox choice most performed to some new top forty song but these old songs she'd listen to all her life. They put her at easy carrying her away to a time as a little kid she didn't have nearly as much to worry about. It was Lapis who caught her dancing in the privacy of her office to these songs.

As she thought about the blue haired woman her left hand travel up her right arm to where the flesh of her shoulder meet the flesh colored plastic of her arm. For the first time Perri could remember it would be visible to everyone. She felt more naked from having that joint between real her and fake her meet than the revealing costume she wore. Then she imagined Lapis behind these curtains she could picture her looking at her scar on her back in the mirror and if Perri' math was right, which it most certainly was she was Perri after all, she was still recovering from the drugs. Perri could imagine her looking at the needle marks on her arm while hard to notice from a distance in that moment Lapis probably felt like everyone could see them. If she could overcome all that then Perri could get over her insecurities.

Perri found her confidence right in time as the music silenced and Pearl's voice spoke up. "Greetings Crystal Cove let me think you all for coming out today. Up next is a new performer you may have seen her around as she has inherited the Cove and has recently moved down here to oversee operations."

Perri shook her head "Is she going to go over the business' taxes? Seriously you clob get on with it." At this point she was almost as excited as she was nervous and wanted to get started before the weight of what she was about to do crashed down on her.

Pearl continued as the music began to play again. "For the first but hopefully not last time give a warm Crystal Cove welcome to our boss, friend and from this day on sister of the stage. The owner of the Crystal Cove, Peridot."

The moment she had been dreading came as the curtains parted as 'Kickstart My Heart' by Motley Crue begin. But to her surprise Peridot didn't hesitate almost like she was in a trance she by the time the vocals came in she had already stolled out onto the stage and had her hand wrapped around the pole. She realized why as she started dancing she noticed she had been staring into Lapis' eyes the entire time who was now directly in front of the stage sipping a cocktail. Peridot wasn't dancing for the club she was dancing for this beautiful amazing woman she had come to love.

By the time the song ended the club was electrified by her performance. She had spun grinded and all the other terms she heard the other Gems use to describe certain moves. Still the crowd cheered and before long it was raining cash all around Peridot. She had expected at best that they would torerate her act at worst she'd be booed off stage, instead here they were whistling and chanting her name. The excitement was infectious as Peridot smile broke out ear to ear. She looked out across the crowd Garnet was by the door smiling at her, Pearl was practically bouncing on her feet as she clapped, and Amethyst was on the bar cheering her name. Amethyst meet her eyes and smiled deviously Amethyst cupped her hands over her mouth and shooted over the roar of the crowd. "Encore!" soon the whole club chanted with her "ENCORE! ENCORE!"

Peridot hadn't planned on giving a encore and normally not having a plan would justa about give her a panic attack but tonight with all the excitement and adrenaline she wasn't even fazed. "You clods want more, I'll give you more. Pearl 'Paradise City'." It only took Pearl ten seconds before the song was selected.

Lapis smiled up at Peridot before shouting "Take your top of!"

Peridot laughed and took off the top of her bikini and reaching out to Lapis handing her the top "Anything for the most beautiful lady here." she kissed the girl before returning to the pole.

The crowd was wild as Peridot worked the pole her perky B cups on full display. She firm round ass barely covered by the scanty bikini bottoms. The crowd ate up every second as the amount of cash on the stage piled up Peridot allowed a few cute girls in the front row to stuff a few bills in her bikini strings. As one song came to an end Peridot would just yell for Pearl to start up another. While she had only agreed to one song she dance through two then three then five. A half hour latter she felt herself become tired. "Okay clods one more song." the crowd groaned in disappointment but Peridot quickly reassured them. "Don't worry you perverts I'll most definitely be back soon." Pearl started up ZZ Top's 'Sharp Dressed Man' for the finale.

She gave it her all but was only concerned about impressing the blue haired woman in front of her. As the song went on Lapis held out some cash and Peridot got close for her to stick in her bikini but Lapis bit the strings and untied them with her teeth. Peridot untied the other side and left her bottoms with lapis as she returned to the pole. The crowd cheer even louder as Peridot's whole body was on display the only clothes she had on was her glasses.

When the song ended Peridot crawled forward to Lapis she pulled her into a kiss and said "Can I interest you in a 'private performance'?"

Lapis smiled "Depends on how much it'll cost."

Peridot laughed "For my girlfriend It's free. Meet me in my office, Lazuli."

"Am I in trouble boss?" She asked still holding the two pieces of Peridot's bikini.

"Only if you leave me waiting."

Peridot collected some tips and left Pearl to sweep up the rest. You know it's a good performance when you have to break out the broom.

She walked threw the backstage halls still naked foregoing the bathrobe hanging backstage and walked into her office. She hopped up on the desk and spread her legs and waited for Lapis to come in. While she waited her mind flash back all that had happened she realized she did die out on that stage and was reborn a new woman. She felt more confident and bold. Apparently when your old life flashes before your eyes when your reborn because again Peridot watched as she replayed the last she couldn't help but laugh.

Peridot was so busy cackling like a mad scientist she didn't notice the door open and Lapis walk in. She did notice when Lapis kissed her lips, as in the lips between her legs.

Lapis looked up at her while planting kisses along her inner thighs "What's so funny?"

Peridot smiled "I was just thinking." she leaned back and grabbed a cushion off her chair behind the desk and handed it to Lazuli.

Lapis took the cushion understanding the unspoken message. 'Make yourself comfortable your gonna be down there for awhile.' she placed it under her knees. "About what nerd?"

Peridot laughed at her dumb pun she thought of. "How I learned to stop worrying and love the pole."