So...if you see this before chapter 20 is up, I'm like literally about to upload it, so check back to Mad World in like...2 minutes and read-.-'  Also, if you don't want to read the inspirations part, just scroll down to the bold and read the song lyrics explanation >.<

Anyways, most of my stories have some kind of inspiration or plot behind them...but Mad World's is a bit...I dunno how to say it...in depth and sentimental to me?  Alright >.<  I'll just start talking lol XD

I was in choir back in high school, my freshman and sophomore year (then I transferred schools to one that didn't have performing arts >.>).  One of my brother's friends who was in choir sang the song for talent show, the Gary Jules version that is.  That was when I first heard it.  After that, I went to find it online >.<  I was really in to anime at the time (still am, but dramas have taken over my life currently lol XD), so I found an anime music video that someone made to it.  It was for this sci-fi anime that I loved called Fafner...and well...Fafner is NOT a happy anime really...so the song kinda fit with it.  After that, I just kinda always put the two together...like, listening to the song reminded me of the anime.

Well, some years later in college, I'm sitting next to my friend looking for Sekai fics.  I scroll by one called "The Dreams in Which I'm Dying are the Best I've Ever Had" and I was like..."I've heard this before..."  I hadn't listened to Mad World in years lol XD  Another friend who was with us recognized it right away and played us both the Gary Jules version and the Tears for Fears version (the original).  Well...I was having Sekai feels...then you add one of my favorite songs, which leads back to sci-fi...and Mad World, the fic, was born XD  NOTE: I didn't read the fic!  Just the title!  So anything beyond the pairing that happens to be similar is PURELY coincidental and NOT plagarized or stolen...The other fic wasn't sci-fi as far as I know and had to do with dreams I'm assuming and also warned about character death...so I'd say they're fairly different lol XD

Anyways, after that, most of my inspirations and ideas come from 3 sources as well as my own twist and takes on things.  These sources being Fafner, Gundam Seed, and Toward the Terra, all 3 are animes.  The last one is my ultimate favorite.......but there's literally only like 4 happy episodes out of 24...I don't cry easily...and I've seen it 5 times...and I still get teary eyed each time-.-'  Back to the point though >.>  For instance, when they're raiding Corthus for supplies, a similar situation happened in Gundam Seed...I just changed it to where it had to deal with Sehun's past.  The idea for what happened to Suho was vaguely inspired by an incident in Fafner as well as an incident in Toward the Terra...something else that's coming up is inspired by Toward the Terra as well..........Yeaaaah....I like depressing things-.-'

Anyways, just thought it would be fun to talk about where my idea for Mad World originated XD  Now on to the next part of this^^

Song Explanation:

So, I've quoted the song throughout my fic.  I kinda tried to base events around the song too and have characters that link back to certain parts.  The first time it appears is when Sehun listens in on Luhan.  The latter sings:

“Their tears are filling up their glasses,

No expression, no expression.

Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow,

No tomorrow, no tomorrow.”

“And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,

The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had.

I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard t-”

The only real significance to this part was the "no emotion" line, because Sehun at the time was seemingly emotionless and the part about dreaming of dying.  While Luhan never admit it, he did want to die.  A lot.

The next time the song is quoted is after the incident on Corthus...when Sehun first breaks down on Kai's shoulder.  The lines sung there are:

“All around me are familiar faces,

Worn out places, worn out faces.

Bright and early for their daily races,

going nowhere, going nowhere.

The tears are filling up their glasses...”

This....fit eerily well with the situation.  After all, they'd visited Sehun old home...that was partially destroyed...and well...you know :/  And the part about the tears was because Sehun finally let himself go and cry.  Probably the easiest one to figure out XD  If there's anything to figure that is >.>

The next time the song is quoted is when Suho is attacked...And oh boy O.o  Luhan sings:

Children waiting for the day they feel good,

Happy birthday, happy birthday.

And I feel the way that every child should,

sit and listen, sit and listen.

Then later:

Hello teacher, tell me, what's my lesson?

Look right through me, look right through me.

And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,

The dreams in which I'm dying-

This....Is quite literally my favorite part of the song.  The first part about the children honestly applies to all of them...because they are all waiting for the war to end and just waiting for a chance to live.  The part about sitting and listening has to do with constantly being given orders by the commander and higher ups and not really having a say in it...just having to sit and listen.  The next part....is honestly the part of the song that affects me the most XD  THe Hello teacher part doesn't have a specific meaning to it...but the look right through me part has to do with Suho...who basically was a shell at that point that they could look through...and really, he looked right through them as well...At the end, Luhan cuts off before the dying part is finished...primarily because after witnessing things like Owl and Suho's attacks, he can't bring himself to dream of death or want it.

Though, that's not openly stated til chapter 20...which is where Luhan and Xiumin sing:

Went to school and I was very nervous,

No one knew me, no one knew me.

Hello teacher, tell me, what's my lesson?

Look right through me, look right through me.

I know there's some repition, but whatevs >.<  Both lines apply.  The first bit Luhan explains deals with how he felt in the past.  It's also my second favorite line in the song...because I think it really applies to everyone at some point.  Then this time, the look right through me part is Xiumin basically reading Luhan like a book...which really upset the latter, but eventually lead them to come clean to each other.

So yeah >.>  This is really long and if you've made it this far, kudos to you.  These are just my interpretations and inspirations on things as well.  The thing I love about music is it's different for every individual.  I know I'm getting all stupid and poetic...but whatevs XD  Music's really important to me if you couldn't tell lol XD  Anyways, I'll shut up now...and if you've read this far, I hope you aren't too bored and I hope you continue to enjoy Mad World :)