Turns you into a, uh, skeleton, with black smoke acting in place of muscles when needed. Of course, you can hardly skeleport back - your body is dead - so it's lucky(?) gerontomancers also have the ability to possess others on contact.

Of course, they can only possess those over the age of 70 - hence the name...

hS

She's like that. You get used to it.

{Well, you get used to it. I don't think anyone else ever has.}

... point.

{Anyway, hi, DawnFire. I'm former-agent-and-former-everything-else Lou. Would you believe it took years to get him to give me a story in which I could settle down with someone I actually liked? Before that it was all 'oh, now for some reason we're in space and we have to kill the bad guys because of stuff'. Terrible.}

Seriously, did you ask to post just so you could gossip about me?

{Yes. Well, all right, not just. Ehm... oh, right. Hi, DawnFire. I just thought I ought to warn you that letting characters talk to their narrator can lead to waaaay more than you might expect.}

... Lou.

{Yes?}

You haven't read DF's stories, have you?

{And how would I have done that, exactly? I don't have a whole lot of computer time inside your head, chuckles.}

I figured you read over my shoulder.

{Eyeballs.}

Whatever. Anyway, I'm pretty sure she's done this before. She knows the risks.

{Who said anything about risks? Are you characterising me as a negative consequence?}

... not intentionally?

{Good. 'cause I'm awesome.}

Er. Right. I think we're getting off topic.

{This is the PPC Board. Everything's off-topic. Anyway, that was it. Oh, also, if I run into your agents in HQ anywhere-}

You quit the PPC.

{I'm bad at quitting. If I run into them, I'll try not to tell them who I am. Might be awkward.}

... you done rambling?

{Just getting started! But you can sign off now.}

So kind of you. Right, so, sorry about her, she's a bit crazy.

{I can hear you...}

You arguing?

{...}

Thought not. Anyway, sorry about her.

hS

I'll send it to you at 50K or when it's done, whichever ends up being possible, with the fervent hope that you don't win up regretting that request.