Albert noticed the narrowed eyes, but didn't take them personally. These days, with things accelerating so rapidly, trust was becoming a rare commodity, one that was even slipping away in his own home. Chris seemed to come to his own decision quickly, and for that Albert was grateful. While he loved Jamie more than anything, every conversation was a lesson in endurance. Coaxing, reassuring, comforting. He'd trade it for nothing, willing to expend the effort, and spend every minute he could with his son, but Chris- he just felt tired. "The tutor that went a little crazy?"
He let out a deep breath, casting a quick glance over his shoulder, trying to see who was actually in the pub. Chris was agitated, rightfully so, and thrown into an impossible position. He didn't want someone to overhear the man's frustration. The words, no matter how true, were spoken in anger and with whiskey in hand. While the matched his own sentiments, that didn't mean there wouldn't be repercussions if overheard by the wrong passerby. He was comforted by a few faces of students he recognized, and no ominous figures with trenchcoats and recording devices.
"No, you can rant. You've- you don't have an easy job. There is a difference between being a Physics professor, and being a guidance counselor. You have these children everyday, and they confide in you. You've- the Project asks far too much of you." Albert gripped a shot from the tray, tipping his head backward to greedily accept the burning trail down his sternum, the top of his stomach warming as it settled. He set the empty glass on the tray, spinning it lazily for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "It's impossible to remain scientific. Even the clinical ones have to be feeling it... I feel it. This- Jamie's happiness is the only thing that matters, and it's killing me that he's punishing himself over a future that's already written in stone. His confidence and self esteem matter far more than the practical application of Hamlet."
"Your father?" He pursed his lips for a moment, deciding to trust Chris, put the same faith in him that Jamie had. "On the flip side, my father was absolutely right about all of this. He said it'd be the biggest regret of my life, and one day, your father will realize it too. And you and I? We'll just be caught in the middle, regretting, and worrying, and caring about the ones who get displaced in the shuffle." He rested his weight on his elbows, running a hand tiredly through his hair.