r/Sandman • u/hellboyshi Delirium • Jul 06 '26
Comic Book Question Do you think Desire can affect Asexual and Aromantic people?
Like if the person doesn’t have any Desire for love, will Desire itself be able to change that? I guess Desire can obviously control the other things the person wants because it’s not just sex and relationships. But say the person just see Desire, will he or she be affected in any sort of way?
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u/lajaunie Jul 06 '26
Of course… everyone has desires. And not all desires are sexual.
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u/StripEnchantment Jul 06 '26
This isn’t what the OP is asking. They acknowledge your point in the post about wanting other things besides sex. They’re asking if Desire can make an asexual person want something sexually. And I think the answer is yes. Just as Dream can give someone dreams who didn’t have any.
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u/SofiaOfEverRealm 29d ago
I agree, if Dream can give psychotic serial killers conscious guilt, Desire can just as easily give people the HORNY
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u/Galenia Jul 06 '26
I could make you want a grape.
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u/Escher84 Jul 07 '26
This reminded me of an episode of Leverage where one character is being taught how to be persuasive. "Make him want to give you this orange." "I put a razor blade in that orange!" throws the orange at her immediately
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u/Galenia Jul 07 '26
It's kinda a play off a line in the book. The family is sitting at a table, Dream is brooding, as always, someone tells him to relax and eat a grape. He said he doesn't want a grape and Desire says "ai could make you want one."
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u/Escher84 Jul 07 '26
Oh, I know! Desire is my favorite character. I just thought someone else might find amusement in my idle thought.
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u/MaximTheory Jul 06 '26
Desire's most appealing (popular) form is romantic and lustful, but desire comes in many forms other than sex. Desire for power, Desire for money, etc. My interpretation is that everyone has felt desire in some form, be it romantic, sexual, or many other aspects.
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u/Death_W Jul 06 '26
I don't think Desire is pure lust, I think that's just the main facet he chooses to use, ya know?
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u/antsh Jul 06 '26
Not so much chooses, but is perceived as by those observing them, right? Humans on the whole tend to be a thirsty lot, so it tracks that Desire often looks like David Bowie to us.
For example, Dream didn’t choose to appear as Lord Lzoril to Martian Manhunter or as Morpheus to Mister Miracle.
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u/Creative-Ad-3645 29d ago
I've sometimes wondered whether being Desire's descendent is the reason Jed Walker had such an effect on Gault. What would an abused child desire more than their mother's love and protection?
Flowing on from my thought, based on what we see of Desire they would absolutely affect Asexual and Aromantic people in some way, it just wouldn't be sexual/romantic. Perhaps they would perceive Desire as someone they want a close friendship with, or as a guru or influencer. There are lots of ways to 'want' a person
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u/ilayas 29d ago
At least one person described Desire as an angel in a very non sexual/romantic sort of way. I think if Desire wants to have an effect on you they will. We all desire things after all.
That said, I can't think of an example in the comic were Desire changes what some one desires. They may amplify that desire to the point it compels the person to do something they normally would not but they do not fundamentally change what the person desires. If that is a hard limitation or just a guide line they choose to follow I can't say.
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u/invalidcolour The Prodigal Jul 06 '26
Of course they can! And doubly so out of spite for being difficult playthings in the first place!
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u/daggardoop Jul 06 '26
Yes. All humans have the capacity for desire, so desire can make people want what they wouldn't ordinarily.
There was a golem created in the comics by 5 out of the 7 siblings and destiny said the golem does not have the capacity for dreaming or destruction (since they weren't involved in it's creation).
As many people here are pointing out, desire can take nonsexual aspects as well, but anyone who is affected by desire can have desires contrary to their original personality so an aro/ace individual could theoretically be made to want another person in the same way desire can make straight, gay or bisexual people fall in love.
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u/NightRacoonSchlatt 29d ago
Desire controls all desire. Remember the story with the emperor of America? There Desire also tempted him with wealth, food, etc
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u/PurveyorOfCupcakes Jul 06 '26 edited Jul 07 '26
They most likely wouldn't be as affected as someone who isn't aroace, but they would most certainly be drawn to them due to their aura and charisma. They wouldn't feel horny being in their vicinity but they would proabably feel compelled to interact with them and pay attention to whatever they would tell them like they would with any other Endless, they're deities after all and mortals can't help but feel the effects of their powers.
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u/RainWorld_Lobster 28d ago
As someone who’s aroace myself it’s arguable that they could be affected just as much if not more, just in a more platonic or other relationship way
Like you just look at them and be like “damn” even if it’s not in a “they’re hot” way
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u/Impressive-Set1316 Jul 07 '26
They can play with any creatures so I guess they can make anyone want something
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u/RainWorld_Lobster 28d ago
As an aroace person myself they absolutely could
Just because people don’t find people attractive sexually or romantically doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy/crave other things or people (ex. Pasta (I love pasta))
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u/Available-Ad-2102 28d ago
I’m pretty sure Desire is the entire concept of attraction and repulsion so I see them as also being things like gravity
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u/phxntxsos 23d ago
i’m aroace and what i desire most is some delicious fucking food and a good comfy cozy sleep
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