You know, it's not something I'd seek out, but if characters are going to be aged back or forward, it should serve the plot and not be just to do it, IMO. Unless it's a prompt you need to fill. :D
I hesitate to call you a crazy loon if you're thinking of writing something like that, but ordinarily I reach for the back button when I come across a de-aged fic. Having said that, if it is written well and is integral to the plot, I will read it - especially if it's by someone who I trust to make it mean something - and enjoy it.
Like 51stcenturyfox said, depends on the plot, although I generally avoid stories which involve de-aged characters. For a variety of reasons I could sit and grumble about all day, but shouldn't.
That said, if I know the author, I'll probably give the story a chance anyway.
I chose the second one because mentally as well as physically de-aging a character, especially to such a young age, would (I think?) pretty much make them useless as an active character in the plot. It could be interesting from the perspective of other characters, but essentially the de-aged character is now just... a young child who has to be taken care of and doesn't know anybody or anything.
However, a de-aged character who is mentally young but with memories of his or her adult past is HUGELY complicated, because how does a five-year-old even process the knowledge that he or she was once older, and possibly had traumatic and complicated experiences?
But I didn't choose adult-in-the-body-of-a-child, because my initial reaction to that is just that it's creepy. In "Big" at least Tom Hanks was a young adolescent, but someone who has become sexually mature whose body regresses to very young childhood... kind of ew.
In any case, it sounds very difficult and would have to be handled with care! I think you could do it, though. :)
hmmm, that's a bunch of really good points. I'm leaning towards mostly a child mindset but with some innate knowledge of stuff they knew when older (things a person could do while in their sleep as the saying goes- the stuff you don't have to think twice about). What's your opinion on that?
Like, knows how to ride a bike or pilot a ship, maybe remembers codes and things? I don't think that would be weird. And a five-year-old probably wouldn't even wonder how he or she knew that stuff, whereas a nine-year-old might think, "I don't remember learning how to fly a spaceship..."
But if the five-year-old instinctively knows how to flirt, that would be creepy. *g*
That all sounds very plausible and not conflict-causing to me. :)
I should qualify all this by admitting that I can't watch those advertisements where they digitally manipulate a young baby to make it talk like an adult. I find them kind of horrifying, much like Snuggles the dryer sheet bear.
I really like the way James handled it in Small Fry and Son of Small Fry: they have the memories of their adult selves, but kid bodies and hormones so their reactions are different. Then, the longer they are in the bodies, the more their mental status regresses.
I don't think I read those. That was one of the de-aging types I was considering though..
I think I'm leaning a bit more towards more kid-mindset with inherent knowledge of things the adult knew (how things work) though, for the sake of the plot.
It would really depend on why they were de-aged. The plot may need them to behave in different ways. I don't have a preference, other than I'd like to see them as in-character as possible for whatever choice you've made.
So... I'd probably teeter between mentally five but with/without knowledge. I can't make my mind up there...
Or... full adult with memories, but trapped within the five year old body and mind. Does that make sense? Kind of like they are along for the ride, but the five year old them is driving and they're tucked in the back in a carseat with several straps....
Originally I was going with what you suggested as the latter (ie in the middle of explaining massively important thing 'blah blah blah oooh legos!' and runs off) But from what people have commented and by chatting with people and considering the plot points I need to hit I'm thinking mostly mentally five but with the inherent abilities they had as an adult (the things they could do without thinking about like using certain technology and whatnot) as well as being familiar with friends and loved ones that they knew as adults.
Actually... the latter on mine was... let's see if I can explain it better....
The adult mind is trapped inside the child. They can observe everything going on but have no influence over it. I guess like they are possessed.
Meanwhile, the 5 year old is in full control and going with what you just said can recognize friend/foe and has inherent abilities, but overall is a 5 year old.
Of course, that all depends on POV... we might never see the trapped adult based on POV.
I like it when the de-aged person has undercurrents of memory from the adult they were. For example a de-aged Jack might know he likes coffee, and how he likes it, or know how to operate his wrist strap. Things he wouldn't when he was *actually* that age in his own timeline.
actually, that's exactly what I had settled on after chatting with people in this thread. Inherent things (like how to use the technology of the wrist strap) remain, but specifics are gone.
I went with my initial response to the idea of de-aging fic, which is oh god please no. Now if I knew the writer that's different. And if I have to pick one I have to go with "easily distracted" because that sounds the most fun.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
no subject
I was mostly just interested in peoples off-the-cuff opinions, especially if it were overwhelmingly 'OMG NO RUN!'
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
That said, if I know the author, I'll probably give the story a chance anyway.
no subject
no subject
However, a de-aged character who is mentally young but with memories of his or her adult past is HUGELY complicated, because how does a five-year-old even process the knowledge that he or she was once older, and possibly had traumatic and complicated experiences?
But I didn't choose adult-in-the-body-of-a-child, because my initial reaction to that is just that it's creepy. In "Big" at least Tom Hanks was a young adolescent, but someone who has become sexually mature whose body regresses to very young childhood... kind of ew.
In any case, it sounds very difficult and would have to be handled with care! I think you could do it, though. :)
no subject
no subject
But if the five-year-old instinctively knows how to flirt, that would be creepy. *g*
no subject
Ans also that they would inherently trust the people they trusted as an adult, maybe remember them in a vague way.
no subject
I should qualify all this by admitting that I can't watch those advertisements where they digitally manipulate a young baby to make it talk like an adult. I find them kind of horrifying, much like Snuggles the dryer sheet bear.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
I think I'm leaning a bit more towards more kid-mindset with inherent knowledge of things the adult knew (how things work) though, for the sake of the plot.
no subject
no subject
no subject
So... I'd probably teeter between mentally five but with/without knowledge. I can't make my mind up there...
Or... full adult with memories, but trapped within the five year old body and mind. Does that make sense? Kind of like they are along for the ride, but the five year old them is driving and they're tucked in the back in a carseat with several straps....
no subject
Originally I was going with what you suggested as the latter (ie in the middle of explaining massively important thing 'blah blah blah oooh legos!' and runs off) But from what people have commented and by chatting with people and considering the plot points I need to hit I'm thinking mostly mentally five but with the inherent abilities they had as an adult (the things they could do without thinking about like using certain technology and whatnot) as well as being familiar with friends and loved ones that they knew as adults.
Or something.
If I don't throw the whole story in the crapper.
no subject
The adult mind is trapped inside the child. They can observe everything going on but have no influence over it. I guess like they are possessed.
Meanwhile, the 5 year old is in full control and going with what you just said can recognize friend/foe and has inherent abilities, but overall is a 5 year old.
Of course, that all depends on POV... we might never see the trapped adult based on POV.
no subject
no subject
I like it when the de-aged person has undercurrents of memory from the adult they were. For example a de-aged Jack might know he likes coffee, and how he likes it, or know how to operate his wrist strap. Things he wouldn't when he was *actually* that age in his own timeline.
no subject
no subject
no subject