Disclaimer! Toffee's sexuality will be touched upon.

Chapter 2: Septarsis' most desired bachelor

Jimmy was discussing, or rather lamenting, about being fired from his job in the militia. He was in Toffee office. The king was sitting comfortably on his chair, facing Jimmy from the opposite side of the desk.

- I demand you give me back my job as a militsioner.- Jimmy insisted, banging his fist on his boss' desk.

- No.- Toffee answered laconically.- In fact, you have no permission to apply for a position in the militia anymore. I advice you to look for a job in some other field. May I suggest you the tourism industry- nowadays there is a big demand for workforce there.

- THIS IS NOT FAIR!- he yelled.

- This is not a topic of discussion!

- WHY ARE YOU EVEN DOING THIS?! IS IT BECAUSE OF THE PRANKS?!

- More like personnel control. I have certain criteria for officers, which completely excludes...- Toffee turned to Rasticore.- Could you remind me of the terms, Rasticore? I recall having a great selection of epithets, when I was making the children's breakfast this morning.

- Roger that, Your Majersty!- Rasticore took a sheet of paper, and read the written on it.- You said, I quote: "No need of vapid producers of drivel!". End of quote, sir!

- Dismissed, Jimmy! Lieutenant, please escort him to the exit!

- Roger!- Rasticore saluted and aggressively grabbed Jimmy by the arm.

- One more thing, lieutenant!- Toffee added.- When you come back, I am going to need some help in preparing the restriction order for him.

- WHAT?!

- Onward, skinny!

Jimmy kept resisting, but Rasticore was too strong for him. After the two men left Toffee's office, Star and Marco entered immediately afterwards, looking at each other confused by the seen.

- Uhhhhh...-Marco tried to think of something to comment about that.

- Hi, Toffee!- Star waved happily.

- I am going to the canteen now.- Toffee responded, all casually.- If you two are hungry, feel free to accompany me. My treat!

Today's menu:

Blood sausage

Spinach soup

Love soup

Spider burger

Cheeseburger

Meringues

Marco was very cautious to avoid the Love soup and the Spider burger, so he chose spinach soup and cheeseburger instead. The meringues looked tasty enough, but he was not sure- what if they were also made of something unorthodox for his human tastes?

- Uhm, Toffee?- he whispered to the septarian.- Is the dessert okay?

- You can eat them.- Toffee answered.- They are not that different from the ones you have on Earth.

Relieved, the human teen took a big plate of pink meringues. He couldn't wait to try them. Star took an even bigger plate of them. Toffee asked for some carry-out food for dinner.

The trio sat on a table and ate their lunches.

- So, Toff!- Star tried to talk, while stuffing her mouth with the cheeseburger.- Did you get our rooms ready, as promised?

- I haven't forgotten, Star! And do not talk with your mouth full!

- Don't be so stiff!- Star groaned.

In the distance, a male septarian sprayed his mouth, and approached their table, looking very confident.

- Hello, general!- he greeted Toffee.- How about a dinner toni...

- No.- Toffee quickly replied, without even waiting to hear the entire offer.

- Shoot! Well, I tried!- the man shrugged.

He left. Star and Marco were quite surprised.

- Sounded like he wanted a date.- Marco said.- Was it because he's a guy?

- No.- Toffee answered.- It's because I am not interested.

- Someone's playing hard to get.- Star whispered to Marco, but Toffee still heard her.

- I am hard to get, Star.- the septarian affirmed.

The next morning, it was Razzles' first day at school. Needless to say, she was pretty nervous- she was not used to going to a regular school, due to the fact she was homeschooled, while growing up. Also...what if that was like that one time, when her father told her he won't be home for a very long time and temporarily left her at a boarding school. He was gone for tormentingly long weeks, and after he finally returned, he had his finger grown back for unknown reasons.

The girl embraced her father.

- I don't wanna go!

Toffee kneeled and patted her head.

- Come on! It's for the better. For both of us.

- Can't you just teach me like before?

- You know very well why we can't.

Razzles gave a deep sigh in desperation.

- Razzles!- her father added.- Would I ever make you do something if it wasn't right?

- No.- the girl answered sheepishly.

- It'll be fine! You'll see! You have enough knoweledge to handle it. - he carressed her hair affectionately.- Besides, it's just temporary, until the new school is finished.- their noses touched.- Be brave, okay?

- Okay!- Razzles gave an insecure smile. Her father believed in her, and she didn't want to disappoint him.

Toffee nuzzled her.

- Good girl!

With Razzles at school and Masaru at the babysitter's, all that Toffee had left to do now, was minding his own business. Pity, that a certain pair of teenagers did not agree with that ideology!

After Toffee took the kids, they went back home, only to be greeted by Star and Marco at the entrance.

- Hi, Toffeeeee!- Star greeted him in a melodical voice, once the septarian and his offspring entered the castle.

- Who's ready for his big date?- said Marco.

- Not me.- Toffee replied sardonically.- What have you two done this time?

- Nothing.- Star assured him.- We just asked a few monsters around, who might be interested in a date with the king. They all said they would be glad, but they'll meet you only when you say so.

- No.- the septarian responded bluntly.

Toffee still couldn't believe he let himself be convinced by that nosy duo. However, they were right when they said that he worked a lot, and he deserved a tad distraction from time to time. Rasticore was there to help the teens babysit the children. They all had something to eat, so there was nothing else Toffee had to worry about.

His date was a female septarian with pinkish scales and blue eyes. Her entire body was covered in spikes. Her name was Carmelita, and even though the date hasn't even began yet, she kept staring at him as if he was the last steak on the buffet. Toffee was, by no means, an expert in dating, but he was well aware exactly what she wanted from him. He was still willing to give her a chance, though.

Razzles was playing with Masaru, under Rasticore's supervision. Star and Marco were watching videos on their phones, wondering about Toffee's date.

Suddenly, the door opened, with Toffee entering the library without any warning.

- Toffee?- Star was very surprised to see him home so early.- I thought you would be gone for, at least, an hour.

- What did she do?- Rasticore asked.

- Guess!- Toffee replied.- Look what I found in her purse, while she was in the ladies' room.- he showed them a magazine. One of the articles was titled "Toffee, Septarsis' own personal DILF".- It was sticking like a sore thumb.

- Ooh!- Rasticore responded in disgust.- Looks like someone has dodged a bullet there.

In fact, all the dates, throughout the following month were disasters. None of them could make Toffee comfortable enough:

- Lara: imagining him naked

- Temperance: too shy, to the point of being scared of everything

- Ragnar: couldn't take "no" for an answer, to the point that he performed a serenade under the window of Toffee's bedroom

- Jahanara: she was a slime monster, who was secretly sexist towards the male sex

- Shemar: he was a frog man, who was secretly speciesist towards septarians

- Jimmy: hoped to get his job back, only to find himself in jail

- Petula: she wanted to sleep with Toffee, and even mailed him her underwear, after the date was long over

- Mumtaz: made fun of Toffee for his interest in history and literature

The list goes on!

The more dates passed, the more Toffee was convinced that he was better off single.

The last date was with Nelina. She was a beautiful septarian with golden scales, brown eyes and waist-long brown hair. Everything was normal, until they started talking about family, and she confessed not to be interested in children. That was the moment, when Toffee had to put an end to their date.

Toffee in this story is portrayed as a demisexual, with no preferences for gender. I imagine that he would be type, who expiriences attraction, after he gets to know someone. Gender is not a factor for him, since he is not sexist- the result of being raised by a toxically masculine father.