"A marked improvement, perhaps."

You could use a little bit more work. You're getting that from the way that he smiles and leans back into his seat.

"I suppose we can say that you've graduated from utterly dour and doom and gloom, to being a needy father dragon draped out on the lawn." He has heard Talk. It amused him, very much. "Empty nest syndrome, Aidan? I never would've thought."