Scratching the back of his head in a rare show of distress, Syd was starting to feel like he'd made a mistake. He didn't want to feel foolish standing here, he used to truly enjoy their conversations full  of wit and chemistry, but now everything was stiff and awkward.

"Ah yes well, they do say men take a little longer to grow up, I wouldn't give up just yet." Despite his professional success, his mother had a continued way of making him feel like he hadn't managed to grow up either. Right now he felt like an awkward teenage himself.

Syd in turn nodded along to her last sentiment. "It suits him, so many who try don't make it, but he took right to it." Merlin why couldn't he figure out some other topic of conversation? Something, anything like what they used to discuss. "How have you been spending your time lately, any trips to the seaside?" There, something, anything was better than the painful, polite chit chat.  He cast her a smile with just enough of a teasing hint to it to hopefully break the ice.