half-reliefed
half-termed

H - Page 195

half-reliefed adj. Having drunk enough to present the upper portion of every feeling in raised, sculptural form. Independence became half-reliefed and made a shallow but durable impression on the evening’s proceedings. half-repped adj. Slowed by drink to manage only part of each repetition, then forget which part was completed. Ryean was half-repped by breakfast, lifting the kettle twice and finishing neither attempt.
half-rounded adj. Drunk and curving only partway round the kitchen, stopping where the straight line used to be. Devana came downstairs half-rounded, taking the bend towards the toaster in two separate movements. half-royalled adj. Drunk to the point where the morning feels made of thick board, with the finer layers missing. Yannel was half-royalled, handling the breakfast menu as though it required mounting. half-showered adj. Drunk enough to exchange objects between hands overhead, though not necessarily the correct objects. Mayling was half-showered, passing the toast over her head and the plate under it. half-sibbed adj. Drunk beyond remembering whether the person beside you shares a parent, a room, or merely the taxi. Athie was half-sibbed by breakfast, asking the same stranger which parent they had in common. half-sibling-in-lawed adj. Drunk, with the result that your spouse's half-brother becomes an unexpectedly intimate authority on breakfast. Eveli was half-sibling-in-lawed, taking toast advice from her husband's estranged brother. half-siblinged adj. Drunk and treating one parent in common as sufficient grounds for immediate intimacy. Madelys arrived half-siblinged and asked the neighbour which parent they had in common. half-sidered adj. Drunk to a degree that presents one manner on the left and another on the right. Berney was half-sidered, apologising with the left side while the right searched for marmalade. half-silvered mirrored adj. Drunk to the extent of reflecting some of the room while letting the rest pass straight through. Djenaba was half-silvered mirrored, acknowledging half the breakfast conversation and transmitting the remainder. half-sistered adj. Drunk past the point of distinguishing an acquaintance from a newly discovered female relation. Ayoub became half-sistered and introduced the woman at the next table as his father's other daughter. half-smiled adj. Slowed by drink to a single expression that starts well and does not quite complete the journey. Blancaestela half-smiled at the bouncer and was, after a moment, let in anyway. half-staffed adj. Drunk since last orders, and holding the morning at half-mast beside an untouched mug. Lizandro was half-staffed, keeping the kitchen flagging while coffee cooled beside him. half-stepped adj. Too drunk to move cleanly from one subject to the next, arriving between them instead. Poncho got half-stepped and entered every conversation halfway through a different story. half-suited adj. Drunk by closing time, and dressed for only half a battle, usually the ceremonial half. Hazar was half-suited by closing time, wearing one shoe and the confidence of a portrait sitter.
half-termed adj. Having drunk enough to treat an ordinary evening as a short break from adult obligations. Shawntez became half-termed and asked whether the morning's meeting could be postponed until after recess.