"Mm-hm," the barest acknowledgement for that surface-level cheer. The falsity of it hits just wrong, and Chris's gaze becomes... shuttered.

They eat a few bites of the meal, then look up at Jeff and ask, quietly, "Your magic. Were you instructed in it, or have you been... left to figure things out on your own?"

Guess which one applies to Chris? (Spoilers: it's the second option.)