How do locked videos and paid unlocks work?
Two different locks: subscriber-only content, and content sold individually that you unlock with Lewds.
A padlock on a video or a media item can mean two very different things.
1. Subscriber-only content
It unlocks by subscribing to the creator, and stays unlocked while the subscription is active. Nothing to pay per item.
2. Content sold individually
Photos, videos and audio sent in chat or in a broadcast channel can carry a price in Lewds. The exact cost and your balance are shown before you confirm: nothing is ever charged without explicit confirmation.
After unlocking
An unlocked item is yours: it stays available even if you cancel your subscription, under Settings › Unlocked medias, filterable by type (videos, audio, images).
If your balance is too low
The unlock screen offers to top up directly. Lewds never expire. See What are Lewds.
Unlocked content is not downloadable and remains protected by the creator's rights: redistributing it elsewhere breaks the Terms of Service and can get you banned.