Love love love this story! The characters are spot on and there's a bit of fluff too :) Thanks for writing this.

Wow, this is beautiful. This is the most wonderfully non-sexist thing I've ever read. So, thank you :)

this was so fluff-a-licious! I adored your AN

I get that your muse wanted to send a message, but I feel like it was a mixed one. In real life, if a guy just doesn't get that you're not interested, there's nothing wrong with a male friend coming in and helping you. I'd rather have that happen than end up experiencing a rape exam.

However, there was no call for Sherlock to "claim" Molly. He could've threatened the guy exactly like he did without all the macho "she's mine" business.

"That doesn't mean you should have to."

That was powerful. Really powerful. As a solidly feminist woman married to a "caretaker" kind of guy, I identify so much with this. I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself. But that doesn't mean I don't sometimes like being taken care of (almost everyone does).

I think what some people may not be getting about your story is YES, Molly could have handled it just fine. But because David is a male sexist jerk, it will take a LOT longer for him to properly register the "no" from Molly than it did for him to understand the same message from Sherlock, a man. And that's because he's obviously an unquestioning product of a rape culture that lets men continue to think that a "no" from a woman is somehow less authentic than a "no" from a man-because the woman doesn't truly mean it.

In other words, Sherlock isn't saving MOLLY. He's saving Molly from wasting unnecessary time convincing David that her "no" is authentic.

And yes, David is typical, not in his sexual predation but in believing deep down inside that Molly falls into certain categories because she's a woman. Sadly, that also describes a great many women.

And to the reviewer who implies that because your work was political it can't be art. PUH-LEEZE. A great deal of art IS political. Shakespeare wrote political plays. Jonathan Swift and Charles Dickens' work is almost entirely political. John Steinbeck as well. Toni Morrison is political as hell. And that's just the tip of the political literary iceberg.

So write on! I'm following you!

This story was more meaningful to me than any other Sherlolly fic I have read. So many of them, despite being well written, fall into the subconscious traps of sexism - Molly NEEDING to be saved by Sherlock, Molly taking care of Sherlock (who all the while treats her like crap), etc. And I love that you have drawn attention to the ridiculous rape culture in our so-called developed nations - any one remember the Steubenville rape trial and the horrific, widespread sympathy for the two rapists?!

Thank you! I m so glad that your fanfic served a purpouse. An important purpose, especially since a cousin of mine has been in a position like that so it is quite personal to me. Thank you for doing a topic like this proper justice,

You speak a lot of sexism and rail against it, but end your story with the damsel in distress not rescuing herself but being rescued. It would have been more powerful if Molly had spoken up at all for herself once Sherlock arrived. Instead, you silence her as soon as a male rescuer appears. If she could have handled it herself, why didn't she?

So, you write a piece that is, supposedly, anti sexism and promptly come out with the sexist assertion that men are rape happy dirtbags (something, as a man, that I find deeply offensive). Are you seeing the irony here?

And then, in this supposedly feminist piece, you have Sherlock swoop in and save her with, as another reviewer notes, what is essentially a claim of 'she's my property, back off', taking us straight back to the dark ages. For God's sake, would it have killed you to have her kick the man in the balls or taser him or some such?

So, in trying to be feminist, you have managed the remarkable feat of being deeply sexist and offensive to both genders all in less than two thousand words. Well done. I hope you're proud.

Firstly, Gatiss did not call Molly wallpaper. He said that Sherlock viewed Moly as movable wallpaper. Something, I expect Sherlock views a lot (if not all) of people as – something remotely in the background until an event or need of his causes him to take notice of them. For goodness sake, it’s a running theme that Sherlock doesn’t notice even John’s absence from the room when he is concentrating.

Secondly, if you have to spend a third of your words in a piece explaining the piece, then it is not art. It is a political diatribe.

Thirdly, how incredibly sexist of you to say most men are like David.

And, my favorite of it all, you want to be Ms. Feminism but Sherlock steps in to “save her” by lying about non-existent claim; a claim that relegates women to second class citizens. In the context that you've used it, “she’s my fiancée” equates to “she is my property so don’t touch my property.” Then you end it all with the hint of a blossoming romance.

Gah! I cry foul. If you want to make a feminist statement about Molly, have her tell Sherlock she can handle and then ACTUALLY have her handle the situation. Have her knee the creep in the balls and walk away.

i liked it :) thanks you for doing this, and i mean your opening paragraph-thing especially :)

Wallpaper my aunt fanny. Molly is a strong intelligent, independent woman who did not rely on manipulation to get what she wants. I don't think Sherlock manipulated her as much as it seemed. She allowed him access because he had access. If he wasn't supposed to have something she would not let him. Hmp she got him to sincerely apologize.

I do not mean to be mean, but you are making a very sweeping statement in your authors note saying that David id a 'typical' man. Not all mem are like that, believe me many of my male friends are femenists, and if you are constantly meeting men like that, then you are around the wrong people. Yes there are still men out there who believe that, there are women who do too, but you cannot generalise otherwise you are making a snap judgement like they are.
Sorry for ranting
WhoNeedsTheLimelight

I liked this :o) - starting reading about how Mark Gatiss referred Molly as Wallpaper yesterday on Pinterest. He better be comparing to her wallpaper in a good way!

Wow. Excellent nuances in this. I'm a little at odds with the conversation Molly has with David if only because I think it comes off a little stilted, but regardless very well done. I think it simply adds to the fact that Molly isnt wallpaper or windowdressing because she has become such a huge fan favorite.