I use a translator, so I hope I'm clear. BIG SPOILER ALERT ABOUT LARS'S ROUT.
I'll be honest. I was following Lars's route; everything seemed very well written, and I really love Lars and this type of character. I loved the growing feelings between MC and Lars, seeing their very different personalities come together more and more. Seeing how they care for each other, resolving misunderstandings, despite the many unsaid things and the mysteries of their pasts. I liked to believe that Lars was the most "serious" of the main characters, very mature, the typical gruff guy with a kind heart. By day twelfth, my heart was broken. I wasn't expecting such a drastic change of tone. Suddenly, I found myself in a VN "like so many others," in a cruising bar, with strip dancing, pole dancing, and a Lars I really struggled to recognize compared to the entire narrative surrounding him. I'm an introvert, monogamous, and not inclined to certain dynamics... Certain sensations and contexts make me truly uncomfortable. I was waiting for the moment when their feelings would blossom, imagining different ways it would happen: when they slept together, with a heroic gesture, after an argument, in one of their intimate moments. And instead... One moment I was with a (young)Daddy who cooked, gardened, and was ashamed to show any emotion. We went from a slow buildup of desire to a lap dance, without declarations, without a kiss (except when he was drunk). I would have expected something like that from Gil, not from Lars. And, maybe I'm exaggerating, but it's happened to me with many VNs: should I expect that from now on everything will be a downward spiral toward nightclubs, polyamory, sex with anyone, sex in public, and all the other content that usually fills VNs? Let me be clear: there's nothing wrong with these things, but they're really not my cup of tea. The premise of this VN was different, so this twist was truly a shock. And I say this as a Lustful Desire player: I found this change of script really out of context. I really wanted to tell Lars I didn't like the idea, and yes, I can do that, but according to the guide, that's not the right answer to give. So my character had to say he was excited about Lars as a stripper. And yes, I know this may sound crazy to many, but I found MC's nightmares more coherent and "reassuring" than this abrupt, out-of-nowhere change from Lars.
It's one thing to have a VN where the narrative revolves 90% around sex, always, with anyone, and from the very beginning. It's another thing to have a story where we have to choose to date just one character as a romantic interest.
And I can overlook this scene, sure, but I'm afraid it's just the beginning. It's happened to me with several VNs: everything starts off deeply and romantic, only to end with darkrooms, group sex, exhibitionism, and so on.
Again, that's fine and I respect it, but since it's not "my thing," I'm afraid to move forward at the moment