Bruce chuckled which came out more as a cough than that, and nodded. "You'd need a lot of liquor to break down the concentrated capsaicin compound." All said in a rush, and he knew he really should not be talking until he breathed, but it was reflexive for him. Either he was nervous and talked too much, or too little, there was no in between. The not talking was smarter, and he did the much easier thing of listening instead.

His eyebrows went up at the explanation, and then he nodded again. "I can feel the heat under my skin, it probably was the best choice under the circumstances." Well he was able to put together complex words, now it was just a low burn. His voice was raspier but it was survivable. "I usually can handle spice, so I might've done more if I remembered the last time I ate it." Which was at least a few more years, so he went conservative.