User blog comment:VictressAgilis/What Do You Want?/@comment-24934423-20151029154646

I'd say it would depend on the story. Yes, lemons are nice, but like you said, they aren't always needed. If a mamono like a Manticore or Hellhound is involved, then you can expect a lemon.

If your story involves something that can hold itself back like a Holstaur or Inari, then the lemon may not be needed; cute cuddles make for good endings, too.

Depending on the situation, a typical fluffy ending may not occur, either. For example, your scenario with the Scilla(s) kind of just stopped after the MC fell overboard. This leaves an open-ended ending that lets us, the readers, put our imaginations to work. Did he drown? Probably not. Did he wake up to find himself able to breathe, surrounded by the Scillas and a Sea Bishop? Maybe.

( =w=)/