Update (12 Sept 2023)
Hi, all, and sorry this is late!
The reason it's late is because, while I intend to keep HBM free to read if at all possible, I've gotten to a point where I can't commit as much time solely to this story and the art for it as I want to. Unfortunately, under capitalism the very act of existing is expensive, so I'm going to have to turn a good chunk of my focus toward something that's going to make money, and HBM currently isn't.
So, going forward the posting schedule for HBM is going to slow down significantly. For Episode 3.5, I will be posting one or two scenes per week (one today, then 1-2 every Sunday up to the beginning of October), and then after that Episode 4 will resume with the regular M/W/F posting schedule, but only one scene (maybe two short scenes) per day, and that's going to be the standard schedule moving forward. Of course, on Patreon scenes get released early in batches and .5 episodes get posted in entirety at once. I'm really sorry to slow down the schedule, but at this point I can't justify dedicating as much time as I have been to this story since I haven't made any money from it.
The good news is that some of the readers of HBM might be interested in what I'll be working on! I'm hoping to start a sticker/art print shop, and most of the designs will be HBM-related (the ones I'm most excited about being stickers of Julius shouting "Fuck you, sir!" and "Snack, please!" because I think we can all relate to that). To keep up with the development of that shop, you can follow any of my socials (@likegemstone everywhere).
If you'd like to support me/the story, you can share the story, take a look at my Patreon (patreon.com/likegemstone), follow my socials, or even just leave comments, reviews, ratings, etc. here on the story! I really appreciate each of those things very much <3
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Thanks so much for reading, and I hope you enjoy 3.5's little intermission from the action going on in Luvatha right now. Just a calm, angsty little grocery run.
Gem <3
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Pronunciations
This is one I keep forgetting to add in, but Ike (as in Ike’s Tavern) is pronounced EE-keh or EE-kuh
Adebuun - AH-deh-boon
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Warnings
Scene 1
- intrusive thoughts about self-harm, gore imagery
- derogative language of sex work
- discussion of addiction/alcoholism
Scene 2
- discussion of alcoholism
Scene 4
- discussion of alcoholism/alcohol
Scene 5
- discussion of alcoholism/alcohol
Scene 6 (Patreon exclusive)
- explicit sexual content