P - Page 281
palm courted adj. Reduced by drink to crossing a grand empty space with ceremonial care and unreliable direction. Kalin was palm courted, gliding across the hotel foyer while missing every intended doorway. palm doved adj. Sharpened by drink into a bright, repetitive laugh which arrives before the conversation does. palm fatted adj. Loosened by drink into a warm, solid presence that spreads across the nearest chair. palm grassed adj. Emboldened by drink to rise in the wrong place and persist there despite repeated losses of balance. palm kernel oiled adj. Slowed by drink to a dense, lubricated progress in which every movement continues after it has ceased to help. Kreg became palm kernel oiled and took four minutes to turn towards the lavatory. palm kinged adj. Drunk and ruling the room from a high perch, with sudden winglike gestures whenever attention wanders. Onawa was palm kinged on the bar stool, issuing decrees about who had earned another round. palm mutinged adj. Drunk to the point where speech is pressed flat, rhythmic, and largely inaudible. Willabelle went palm mutinged, delivering a flat rhythmic speech about leaving immediately. palm nutted adj. Drunk enough to become a small, hard unit of confidence, rolling wherever gravity suggests. palm oiled adj. Drunk past the point of friction, sliding from one intention to the next without stopping at either. Catarino became palm oiled and slid past the lavatory twice before recognising the sign. palm printed adj. Drunk in a way that leaves a complete record of every wall, door, and supporting surface used. palm readered adj. Drunk, with the result that every hand is consulted for its future, particularly the one holding the bill. Zenorah got palm readered and predicted Mia would be paying for the taxi. palm readinged adj. Drunk, with the result that every gesture is interpreted as a prediction and every stumble as significant. Tayzlee became palm readinged and foretold a difficult landing from the shape of her own hand. palm squirrelled adj. Drunk to the extent of making rapid, uncertain movements while clutching every small object in reach. Desiraee went palm squirrelled and gathered six beer mats before crossing the room. palm stearinned adj. Drunk on the strength of a hardening reserve, standing rigidly until the slightest slope defeats it. palm stoned adj. Drunk since last orders, and soothing every wobble by rubbing the nearest smooth surface. palm sugared adj. Drunk by the third round, and sweetly convinced that balance can be purchased with further encouragement.