Morpheus was effectively ignoring his sister-brother, and if there was one thing Desire could not tolerate, it was being ignored.

They were sitting in the Library of Dreams, surrounded by all books that had never been written, and Dream was reading, as if he were entirely alone. Desire stretched his/her legs and grimaced. He/She had dropped in unannounced, true. But this…this was simply unacceptable.

"Dear brother, do you intend to ignore me for the entire duration of my visit?" S/He drawled, stretching languorously.

"I warned you that I had business to attend to."

"Surely it can wait on the greetings of a sibling. I visit so rarely."

Dream shut the book with a snap, and looked up. "A choice, sister-brother, that has little to do with me. You don't like my realm."

Desire laughed. "Oh, hardly! I have nothing against dreams. On the contrary. But I worry for you, dear brother, alone here with your nightmares and…books."

"That is kind of you. But unnecessary." Morpheus's voice was irritatingly cool. Desire felt a twinge of exasperation. S/he leaned back and smiled his/her smile that was sharp as a knife.

"Brother, brother, Don't you ever get bored?"

"No."

S/he yawned and stretched. "I could help you with that."

"Hmm-m."

"I could make you want something more. That's what I do, you know. Make…"

"I know who you are, sister-brother." A hint of irritation, s/he was pleased to hear. "Why would I want that? I am content with my responsibilities."

S/he tittered. "How dull. You mean to say you wish for nothing? No women – or men, as you like; no company but dreams and those mad ghouls you call servants, and books…" Desire stood and went to the shelves, selected a book. "…books that have never-" she tossed it up – "existed" – it burst into flames, ash raining down – "at all?" S/he turned to gaze at Dream. He hadn't stirred, but held the book that had burned, whole, in one hand.

"Sister-brother, do not presume to play with the things that are mine."

Desire bowed mockingly. "My deepest apologies."

"I'm sure." A touch of acid. Desire prowled over, tongue flicking over his/her lips. S/he sat down on the arm of Morpheus's chair and leaned over. "Dear brother. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

"I do not want to play your games." Stiffly.

"There's nothing you…" S/he leaned back and smiled, lazily, sprawled catlike over Dream's lap. "…want? Desire?" S/he reached up and caressed his face and for a moment, a moment, s/he had him. Desire in his fathomless eyes. A flash of triumph and the hold was broken.

He jerked to his feet, dumping Desire unceremoniously on the floor and strode away. "Get out."

"But brother dear…"

"Get out of my sight."

Desire stood and brushed itself off, and smiled.

"Just let me know, brother, if you want…something…someone…"

S/he saw him tense even as his voice tolled flatly. "Go."

S/he smiled. "Don't mind if I do. I'll be back to return your book."

S/he had the pleasure of seeing Morpheus's face altered by surprise and anger for a split second before the Dream castle vanished and s/he was back in the golden statue of Desire, laughing, laughing, laughing.