Not impossible! And I mean, if you're using it for a realistic-universe fandom and don't want to go magical-realism or cracky, I was imagining possible interpretations like... Oh, let's take Kelly, just since he's already here and suffering so helpfully. *g* Maybe Kelly has to infiltrate/seduce/socialize his way into a particular expat group. But by this time in his career, the folks in the group are all a lot younger than he is. So he has to 1) pitch himself as a slightly younger guy, and 2) keep up with the energy levels and activities (and maturity levels) preferred by this younger set, to better be included by them instead of being seen as the Dad-Mascot. More of a personal/forcible/metaphorical "de-aging", that would surely bring on a lot of psychological distress for him (re: aging out of the job, falling down on the job, the Department grinding him into the dirt as their expendable tool...), not even to mention the physical toll.
That was just off the top of my head, though, as one angle on an "I am trapped as [in the role of] a younger person and I can't get out" sort of thing. I'm sure there are better ways to go at it, without having to do the "poof, someone is crackily turned into a little kid and their partner has to look after them oh jeez no thank you nooooo". *cough*
no subject
*hugs Kelly pre-emptively*
*...and Reese too*
But not impossible, I think...
Not impossible! And I mean, if you're using it for a realistic-universe fandom and don't want to go magical-realism or cracky, I was imagining possible interpretations like... Oh, let's take Kelly, just since he's already here and suffering so helpfully. *g* Maybe Kelly has to infiltrate/seduce/socialize his way into a particular expat group. But by this time in his career, the folks in the group are all a lot younger than he is. So he has to 1) pitch himself as a slightly younger guy, and 2) keep up with the energy levels and activities (and maturity levels) preferred by this younger set, to better be included by them instead of being seen as the Dad-Mascot. More of a personal/forcible/metaphorical "de-aging", that would surely bring on a lot of psychological distress for him (re: aging out of the job, falling down on the job, the Department grinding him into the dirt as their expendable tool...), not even to mention the physical toll.
That was just off the top of my head, though, as one angle on an "I am trapped as [in the role of] a younger person and I can't get out" sort of thing. I'm sure there are better ways to go at it, without having to do the "poof, someone is crackily turned into a little kid and their partner has to look after them oh jeez no thank you nooooo". *cough*