#9ft tall smoke show of a girlfriend

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

So I’ve been thinking about this moment for the last few days. Their own private good-bye before all of the official good-byes, each about to embark on their different off-season paths. Carson, through a bit of humor, resigning to maybe not seeing Greta again, knowing that Greta still has her rules and needs to keep them.

And then Greta says this.

More than anything, this was the moment that shows how much Greta has shed her old, protective self and transformed from how we originally meet her. How much she really has fallen for Carson.

From “No. We’re home now. Not in our little room.” when Carson just wants to *talk*, to “You could come with me.” without Carson even prompting anything.

Greta, who sets her boundaries of when things start and end (think of every kiss and moment she initiates) decides in this moment to say

"No, I want this, whatever it is or is going to be. I don’t want to give this up."

And then THIS PART really just got me for the first time.

Greta just asked Carson to come to New York with her on a whim.

When it comes to women, Greta Gill doesn’t do whims.

You’re telling me that Greta really doesn’t have any sort of plan beyond that offer? That she doesn’t have fifteen different scenarios running in her head?

Miss “I have a rule for every possible interaction I could have with a woman” doesn’t??

Know???

How this would work?????

Girl has it BAD

Greta really has kept, and then broken, every single one of her rules for Carson Shaw. And, it seems, this time, it may be finally worth it.

She's in love, your honor.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Greta Gill and the Bar

I know this scene has been analyzed To Death, and I truly think episode 6 in general is one of the best episodes of television of the last year.

But here's a thing I can't get over.

The night at The Office, Greta kisses Carson. Twice.

You might be thinking, 'Well, yeah, Leah. Greta and Carson kiss a lot in this show. You've reblogged every instance of it. Twice.'

HOWEVER.

The only times in the entire show that she ever initiates a kiss is at the bar on their first night in Rockford.

And the night at The Office.

And everything in between (plus the porch scene)? When they aren’t already in an established moment, Carson takes the lead.

Now, We Know Greta let Carson take the lead on many occassions because 1) Carson is an absolute horndog 2) Greta wants Carson to be able to figure things out and she doesn't want to be the stereotypical predatory queer

(edit: and now I’m curious if she did the same thing with all of the other women she had flings with—teased and ramped up their desire, but never actually made the first move on them…GRETA GILL IS SO FASCINATING, Y’ALL)

But at a certain point, when Greta realized she had Actual, Grown-Up Feelings for Carson, she was Terrified and could not bring herself to make the first move.

Because she remembers what happened the last time.

And then they walk into the bar. And Carson takes her hand. Asks her to dance.

And everything changes.

Look how happy she is in the first gif. She's smiling and her eyes are bright, but she's not looking at Carson. She's looking at everything and everyone around them.

Greta finally felt like she belonged. Her love belonged. She gets to take all of that love in that big, squishy heart of hers and show it the way she's always wanted to.

And what an exhale she was able to let out.

She kisses Carson's hand and holds her close and lifts her chin so their lips meet because she WANTS to.

Because she wants to publicly show love and affection toward this woman in front of her and not have to second-guess if someone dangerous is watching.

And she’s finally able to do what she wants.

(Anyways I'm gonna stop here before I start eating the drywall)

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

It’s completely wild to me that D’Arcy Carden has only really been cast as the “funny” characters and never the “dramatic, puts-on-a-charming-front, ultra-femme, smoke show with a traumatic past”

Because D’Arcy Carden

Was Made

To Play Greta Gill

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Since, upon inspection of the shot itself, the game card Greta kissed and left for Carson was just the card of whatever player was closest to her.

My headcanon is that, while yes of course Carson keeps that one card on her...

One day Greta gifts her with another game card with "Carson Shaw - Rockford Peaches, Catcher" scrawled across the top.

Yes, there are some game stats on it, but Greta also lists some of the things she loves about Carson, Carson's favorite foods, books…

And, of course, a stamp of bright red lipstick in the top corner, caressing the first few letters of her name.

Carson tapes the card to the inside of her locker, where it stays through the remainder of the league.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

I know we love the kisses and the convent scene and the car scenes but THIS

and this

and ya know what even this

…get me every goddamn time.

I don’t know what it is about two women doing this thing with their hands. One finger at a time. Gently. Cautiously. Lovingly. Soothing.

Just to say “Hey…I’m here.”

I know it’s done in the show because of the time in which this story takes place. Because it’s about the safest way that Carson and Greta can show, in public, genuine affection for each other that isn’t only read as being friends or teammates.

But even if that wasn’t the case…there’s a tenderness in these subtle movements and touches that Abbi and D’Arcy honed in on that just *work* for Carson and Greta and where each character is at.

Always reaching for each other. Whenever they can. Holding each other as closely and gently and securely as they’ll allow themselves to.

Because fuck the rules.

And I

just

melt.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

I think a lot about Greta's line in 1.04 about how her affairs sometimes "even help with the marriages".

And how she's trying to help Carson see that this thing between them is okay and might fix her and Charlie’s relationship but

There's SO much sadness behind it.

She's come to realize that her only value as a queer woman lies in what her body, her touch, her love can provide for others. She is just something for others to just take and take and take and—

And she has to tell herself that in that moment because — this time — she’s actually falling. She has to say it out loud. It’s helping Carson. She’ll take what you give her. And then she’ll leave. But at least she’ll be happy…

And I just

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

So won’t you please just

take

my

hand

And take my whole life, too

‘Cause I can’t help

Falling in

Love

With

You

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Happy International Women’s Day to my favorite woman

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Carson doesn’t wear polish on her fingernails, but she loves it when Greta paints her toenails for her.

Carson always wears the same color Greta wears on her fingers.

It becomes their little ritual; Carson even gets really good at painting Greta’s nails. Eventually, she’s the only person (aside from herself) who she allows do to them.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Leaguetober micro fics: day 28 - pizza (reposted from my Twitter)

She planned it for weeks. It was their first real anniversary. The Italian grocer two blocks from their apartment told her the ingredients. Flour. Salt. Water. Tomatoes. Basil. Cheese.

It was going to be perfect.

When Greta returns form work that evening, she's shocked to find Carson standing before a spread of ingredients that overtook their tiny apartment kitchen.

"What's all this?"

Carson shrugs, stepping forward to take Greta's hands. "I...thought we could try to make pizza."

By 2am, though, Carson's sitting on the couch, tears streaking the flour splotched on her face. Neither of them have eaten. The burned sauce smell still lingers (and would for weeks). Greta perches next to her, her third glass of wine in her hand.

"You make pizza just as well as you make pies, Shaw."

Carson looked pleadingly at her.

Greta wrapped an arm around her, her face softening. "I'm sorry this didn't work out for you."

"I wanted to make tonight...special."

Greta pressed a kiss to her temple. "I know."

Watching Carson stumble through this year -- charming her, wooing her, making what they had feel as normal as they could -- made her fall harder every single day.

But part of her was still too scared to let herself believe that Carson wouldn't leave, that this was all real...

But here, now, in the middle of the night, her girlfriend sat next to her looking defeated and despondent and as if the world has ended... '

She knows it is real.

She vows to make today -- and every day after -- special for Carson, too.

"But now it'll be one we'll never forget."

Greta stood up, offering her hand to Carson. "C'mon. Night's still young. The deli downstairs is always open. And I'm starving. Let's leave the pizza-making to the professionals next time, yeah?"

Carson imagines them grabbing sandwiches and pastries and drinking more wine and falling asleep on the couch. And that, the normalcy of it all, in and of itself, feels as big and special as anything.

Carson smiled and took her hand.

"Yeah."

---

If you like this, catch up on all of my Leaguetober micro fics here

OR

Read my longer ALOTO fics here

:)

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Leaguetober micro fics: Day 16 - Books (reposted from my Twitter)

Greta liked to read, but books were heavy and bulky. Her reading materials were what she could get for cheap, opting for mass-market paperbacks she could read once and leave on a park bench and immediately forget.

She bought "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" on a whim, knowing she would need something to occupy her time for the trip to Chicago (Joey always fell asleep immediately on trains).

She read through it three times.

She liked to read because it was an escape from all the running, the pretending, the worry.

But reading Francie's story of her life in Williamsburg, not too far from where Greta and Joey spent their own chaotic childhoods, chasing after dreams they had no right to have.

It made her feel less alone. She didn't know books were supposed to do that. It's the first book she wanted to share with someone.

And when she sees a fancy, hardbound copy of it in the parlor of the boarding house, she knows just who needs to read it, too.

It takes everything she has to keep still when Carson starts to quote the book--her favorite passage, no less--in her rally speech in the locker room. To not sweep her in her arms and kiss her. Hearing the words out loud washes away fears and doubts built up over a lifetime.

Going back to New York meant stability. Space. Her collection of books grows from one to three to ten. She gets to have favorites, to re-read, to scribble thoughts in margins. As Carson moves her books in as well, she eventually has to buy an actual bookshelf.

Years later, Carson gifts her a signed first edition for her birthday. They spend evenings reading it aloud to one another.

Their collection grows, as does their life together. They share stories...all while they write their own.

---

Hoooooooly shirtballs I've been doing this for two weeks already? I don't know if folks are loving these or not, but I'm having a blast challenging myself to write a little bit every day.

But if you've been following along since day 1, or are just jumping in...thanks :)

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Leaguetober micro fics

Day 2 - Red (reposted from my Twitter)

"Red's your color, darling."

Greta was 16, at the makeup counter of R. H. Macy's, on a rare outing with her mother. Actually, she had snuck away from the shoe department, where her mother was still squawking at the poor salesperson.

She loved pretty things. To wear pretty things. But she was taught to never call attention to herself. To be small. Unnoticed.

But a kind smile from the woman behind the counter had her pointing to the brightest red color in the display.

She held the metal tube out to Greta.

She looked at herself in the mirror and gasped, allowing the grin to spread across her face.

But then she heard her mother yelling for her from the other side of the sales floor and she took off, wiping the lipstick onto the back of her hand.

Red became her color.

When she had her own money, she went to that same makeup counter and bought four tubes of lipstick. She even found matching nail polish.

She was wearing a red dress, A-line, with tiny white polka dots, the night she first kissed Dana.

Red could be seen from everywhere. Bright. Fiery. Demanded attention. Every antithesis of what she was told to be growing up.

Small. Quiet. Out of the way. Unimportant.

Greta Gill was done being invisible.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Leaguetober micro fics: Day 17 - dance (reposted from my Twitter)

It's an intricate dance, trying to look normal. One never taught outright, yet essential to know. Greta knows the steps. As does Joey. They figure them out together. They know to perfect them. Their routine is impenetrable.

She knows how reckless and dangerous it can be to not follow society's lead. Always backwards and in high heels.

She stepped out of line once. Never again.

Now it's perfection on top of rehearsed on top of memorized.

She can do this in her sleep. And it makes her miserable.

She wants to know if this...new one...knows this dance.

Ah.

Carson does not know the steps.

But she wants to learn. She *must* learn.

Or else there is no more dancing.

Somehow, though...Carson leads her in something else. Greta can't help but follow.

She thought dancing would allow her to stay invisible. She thought that was what she wanted.

Instead, Carson takes her hand, holds her close, and shows her how to dance.

And she flies.

——

A/N - If you’ve liked these, please reblog, and/or let me know in the replies/tags how you liked it! Leaving comments keep your local fic authors fed! 😁

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

For many queer folks, home is a complicated topic. Home is something that we lose, then have to rebuild again.

In a series of vignettes, here's how Carson Shaw and Greta Gill build theirs.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Chapter 2 is now up!

when the gusts came around to blow me down, I held on as tightly as you held on to me

walk me home in the dead of night

It's the summer of 1944, and Greta and Carson are still trying to figure this thing out.

[emeraldcitynerdfighter]

Chapters: 1/6 Fandom: A League of Their Own (TV 2022) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Greta Gill/Carson Shaw Characters: Greta Gill, Carson Shaw Additional Tags: Post Season 1, we got some angst, we got some fluff Summary:

For many queer folks, home is a complicated topic. Home is something that we lose, then have to rebuild again.

In a series of vignettes, here's how Carson Shaw and Greta Gill build theirs.

New fic, Fruits. Enjoy!