You have 2 new messages from Bree ;P.
"it's the end of the school year wooo"
"Did the Forging Friendships site also send you that form?"
Sent: 10:45am
Received: 11:04am
You have new messages from Conner :D.
"yeah lol"
"Some sort of survey"
Sent: 11:05am
Received: 11:11am
Dear User UndeadFox,
Thank you for participating in our Forging Friendships year-long program! We hope you enjoyed your time with your new friend! Would you mind filling in this form for us to improve the experience of participants next year? Thank you.
Best regards,
The Forging Friendships Team
1. Age:
15
2. Age of your partner:
15
3. What was your first impression of them?
A funny person? But also nice and friendly and eager.
4. Did you have a positive or negative experience? Why?
Positive, because we got along pretty much immediately. We had similar hobbies, we chatted every day and even exchanged gifts on birthdays and Christmas.
5. What do you think about being paired with someone from your year?
I think it's better that way, or at least for me. We could complain about homework and exams together. The more common topics, the better. Having "school" as a common topic can be great for people who don't share many interests.
6. Will you recommend this program to your friends/ family?
Oh yeah, for sure. I think they'll like it.
7. Will you join the program next year?
Maybe? ;P
1. Age:
15
2. Age of your partner:
15
3. What was your first impression of them?
Someone who's WAY more put together than I am. Someone who's nice and calm and friendly.
4. Did you have a positive or negative experience? Why?
Positive, because we always had so much to talk about. She became one of my best friends even before we met in real life. It was really cool to connect with a "stranger". We actually found out a lot about each other.
5. What do you think about being paired with someone from your year?
It's great! Especially because I'm a freshman and I just want to make new friends in my year. Seriously helped me during those first few months.
6. Will you recommend this program to your friends/ family?
Already did! I think they're gonna sign up for next year
7. Will you join the program next year?
For sure! :D
June 3. 5:07pm.
Conner: ok we're meeting at the ice cream shop, yeah? :D
Bree: Yeah :D
Bree: you better keep your promise! ;)
Conner: ohhh im a llama of my word ;))
Conner: ill buy you the jumbo ice cream cones with extra chocolate sauce and sprinkles and waffles that cost a fortune
Bree: you quoted that word for word too lmaoooo
Conner: :D
Bree: :DD [heart]
Conner: [heart] [heart]
Conner: See you soon!
Bree: see ya
Bree: Ohh wait I literally see you there hahha
Bree is offline.
Conner: reli? where u
Conner: oh wait
Conner is offline.
Liked by fredick_gayford, alexbaileyy, and 46 others
breecxmpbell Ice cream with Conner :)))
View all 2 comments
fredick_gayford am i missing something :D
breecxmpbell you'll find out soon ;)
End.
A/N: Pheww! It's finally done! :D Here is a rather long afterword because I have a lot to say ;P
Thank you so, so much for reading and supporting till the end! I didn't expect this to get so many readers aha. So to each and every one of you who waited patiently for chapters (even though I always missed dates at the end LOL): a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Now onto more "personal" stuff. I started writing this in like... mid/late August 2020 although I got the idea in July (more like I borrowed the idea from the fic Anonymous which I credited in the first chapter). 2020 August to 2021 May (the exact period I wrote Invisible String) was honestly the worst for me, because of exams and Covid and universities and stuff. This was meant to be a low-effort (ish) but fluffy and fun romcom to amuse myself. And then I abruptly lost interest in romance and shipping in like March, and suddenly this fic went from a hobby to something I had to pressure myself to write. Partly because I didn't want to disappoint all the nice people reading this, and partly because I didn't want to disappoint myself who wrote a good half before I burned out.
So this fic didn't turn out very lovey-dovey in the end, and I feel you guys deserve an explanation because a lot of y'all want that good ole Conneree ;) But is it really strictly platonic? This chapter actually answers it, although you might want to reread chapters to pick up hints lol :D Of course, feel free to interpret it any way you like.
... I really don't want to get all negative at the end, but there are things I did notice while posting this fic. Firstly, some of you were unaware that spamming "UPDATE!" gives pressure to authors and makes them less inclined to update. I think I talked about this several times, and thankfully you guys listened and were understanding :DD so I won't talk about this any more.
Secondly, and this doesn't just apply to this fic, but sometimes I feel... someone mightbe inspired by something I wrote? And so they borrowed concepts similar to mines but tweaked it a little? But also didn't... ask or credit? (To everyone who nicely asked in my DMs: you're cool and I appreciate you. To people who took their stuff down after I asked: thank you.) Like, I don't mean to sound pretentious, but maybe I'm sensitive to stuff like this because at least two of my fics have had their ideas "stolen" lol (they're all resolved now, not going to bring up old drama). Of course it's normal to be inspired, heck, this entire fic is inspired by someone's 2014 Hiccstrid fic that I deeply love, but what really leaves a bad taste in my mouth is when people refuse to admit they've been inspired. Or they don't credit. Not even a "I saw this somewhere, thought it was cool" or "I know there's a fic like this out there, all similarities are unintentional). The lack of acknowledgement frustrates me the most, especially when I get the feeling this whole "borrowing other's ideas" is still happening despite my two previous cases. Especially when it's obvious that the work is inspired by something else.
I dunno. Might be reading too much into it, might not be.
And this is about fics who share the whole specific gimmick with minor changes (maybe even with similar formatting and design), not random non-specific headcanons that appear for one chapter or whatever.
So literally, just acknowledge other's creations. It is that simple. I don't want people to "own" concepts/ ideas, I literally just want acknowledgment. A "yes, I read that fic, my fic is inspired by theirs" or "no, I never heard of that fic, all similarities are coincidental".
But then again, I don't have much to say on Invisible String since this is 70% based on someone else's ideas, and I respect that :)
OKAY now that's over, onto the positive things :D
(If you're still reading I really appreciate ya)
This year was kinda crappy. But as cheesy as it is, you guys made it better :D you've never failed me with your early comments and hearts and it's just- I'm so lucky to have y'all. Even if you never wrote a review or favourited or followed even if you just read a chapter, I'm thankful for you too. Your support is probably why there's even an epilogue in the first place. I know I say this every time, but this fic won't be where it is without you guys :DDD
It's been quite the journey, and I'm happy to have you guys with me :D (Maybe this fic is the Invisible String tying us together, and we're all the Internet friends lolol) Thank you everyone! :D