Nostalgic Captain Q and the Wild MT Drinking Bash
The grand finale of the nostalgic Captain Q MT was, as expected, the drinking party. With all the games wrapped up, the Publishing Content kids and students had returned to their assigned rooms. Group 7 had gathered in a circle when Jo Kyung-jun kicked the door open.
"Hey, everyone! I brought whiskey!"
"Woooah!"
"Let's crack it open quick!"
Naturally, first place went to the Seven Siblings team. Group 7 had started at the bottom early on, but Jang Deok-hoon's leadership turned things around, racking up points. Especially Seo Joo-hwan's scores from the cross-dressing contest and talent show had been huge.
Jo Kyung-jun shoved the wrapped whiskey bottle into Seo Joo-hwan's hands, insisting he open it himself. The top contributor had to do the honors, apparently. With everyone watching eagerly, he tore off the wrapping.
"Whoa! It's whiskey, whiskey!"
"But what's the difference between whiskey and regular booze anyway?"
"Is it tastier?"
"It's gotta be good stuff either way!"
Seo Joo-hwan couldn't help but chuckle at the freshmen group's cute reactions. Aside from him at 23, Jeong Ha-yeon, and the sophomores Jo Kyung-jun and Min Hye-young, everyone else was freshly 20 and barely legal for drinking. They probably didn't even know the difference between soju and whiskey. Sure, some might've started sneaking drinks in high school, but not in Group 7, it seemed.
But his amusement was short-lived. Once the wrapping was fully off, Seo Joo-hwan's eyes went wide.
"Captain Q?"
The ultimate value king you could grab at any convenience store. Back in the '70s and '80s, Captain Q had been the dream substitute for pricey whiskey among folks who couldn't afford the real deal. Even into the early '90s, it was famous as the "time-traveling booze."
Two friends his age let out disappointed groans.
"Aw, Captain Q? Really?"
"Tch. What a letdown."
Jo Kyung-jun and Jeong Ha-yeon smacked their lips in regret. But they quickly nodded in understanding. If the student council had cash to splash, would they really spring for premium whiskey?
Seo Joo-hwan, holding the Captain Q and eyeing it curiously, suddenly piped up.
"Didn't they stop making Captain Q last year or so? Pretty sure it's hard to find on shelves these days."
As he recalled, counterfeiters selling fake versions had tanked its rep, leading to production halting around 2015. By now, you couldn't get it even if you wanted to.
Jeong Ha-yeon and Jo Kyung-jun's eyes widened at his words.
"...Huh? Now that you mention it, I haven't seen it at convenience stores lately."
"No way. You're right? How'd they even score this?"
Seo Joo-hwan smiled faintly at their surprise, a strange nostalgia washing over him. The first whiskey he'd ever tried before enlisting was Captain Q. It held some meaning for him—he'd even hunted it down after turning 30 in his previous life, only to be disappointed it was gone.
"This stuff's super rare now, huh?"
"Whoa, so it is good booze?"
"Nah, not good—just hard to get."
The freshmen, who'd been bummed out mimicking the two upperclassmen, perked up at that. Even the disappointed duo urged him on.
"Hey, Joo-hwan. Crack it open already. Two bottles, right? Leave 'em sitting and other groups'll swarm for shots till it's gone."
"Yeah, we gotta drink ours first!"
Seo Joo-hwan chuckled dryly, popped the Captain Q, and poured rounds for the group. They clinked glasses amid the rich whiskey aroma.
"Let's do drinking games!"
"Yay! Sounds fun!"
"Ugh, I forgot all mine."
"No worries! I got 'em!"
Yoo So-jeong beamed excitedly. Jo Kyung-jun whined about just returning from leave and not knowing any, but no one bought it.
Tch. I don't know many either.
Of course, Seo Joo-hwan, who'd lived his whole life as a loner, was in the same boat. He'd have to wing it by ear. The other freshmen were new to 20 anyway, so they probably didn't know much either.
But he was wrong.
"First round's a full shot! Half shots are penalties!"
"Bunny bunny bunny bunny!"
"Joo-hwan oppa's caught!"
"More Game of Death!"
"Dong-gu~bak~ orchard shot!"
"Orange, orange~ orange!"
"Kyahaha! Joo-hwan oppa again! Kyung-jun oppa too!"
Had they practiced from videos or something? The group unleashed a nonstop barrage of drinking games.
"How are you guys so good? Spill it—when'd you start drinking?!"
Seo Joo-hwan had actually drunk the most in his life. Jo Kyung-jun had only been back from leave two years, but he'd regressed a full decade. His recent drinking games? Just whispering ones with Lee Jeong-hoon. Not exactly playable here.
"Ni-chi game, one!"
"Two!"
"Three."
Sudden ni-chi game. Seo Joo-hwan glanced around slyly and called out.
"Four!"
"Four!"
Jeong Ha-yeon beside him shouted it at the same time.
"Heehee! Joo-hwan oppa and Ha-yeon unnie, drink up!"
"Argh, Seo Joo-hwan! You suck at games!"
"Hey, you got caught too—why blame me?"
She was calling him out despite losing together, so he shot back indignantly. As they bickered instead of drinking, the group started shoulder-dancing and chanting.
"Love! Shot! Love! Shot!"
"What? Are you guys drunk already?"
He'd drunk the most, but everyone's faces were flushing pink. Jeong Ha-yeon lifted her glass slightly.
"What love shot? I'll just drink normal. Okay?"
"Love! Shot! Stage one's no good~ Stage two!"
No dice. The girls, who'd been subtly following Jeong Ha-yeon's lead, turned feral once the booze hit.
Seo Joo-hwan smirked at her.
"Hurry up or stage three's next?"
"Tch."
"Let's just do it quick. You want stage three? Sit on my lap that bad?"
"You psycho? Hilarious. Fine, let's do it!"
Jeong Ha-yeon glared daggers but stood up, all pretense of playing coy gone amid the stares and swears. They rose, pulling close like they were about to embrace.
"Kyaaa~!"
"Ha-yeon unnie's so pretty!"
These girls had taken a shine to her since she went makeup-free. Though right now, they were just egging them on to drink faster.
"Ooh! Bro and sis look great together!"
"Shut it, otaku!"
"Y-yes ma'am...."
Jeong Ha-yeon snapped, and Jang Deok-hoon deflated. Seo Joo-hwan snickered obnoxiously, stepping close to drape his arm behind her neck. Her arm went behind his next. Embracing like that, they downed their glasses. They clinked empties overhead, sending the girls into squealing fits again.
Now hooked on love shots, they stuck to games nabbing pairs, everyone taking turns crossing arms to chug.
"Unnie, unnie. Hwan unnie."
Yoo So-jeong, tipsy, bobbed her head side to side calling Seo Joo-hwan. Her ponytail swished like a puppy tail.
"Hwan unniii! Love shot with me this time!"
"You didn't even get picked?"
"Aang~. Still wanna, unnie!"
"When you gonna stop calling me unnie?"
The cross-dressing was ages ago, yet some still called him unnie.
"Joo-hwan oppa's oppa, but Hwan unnie's unnie!"
"What're you on about?"
"Oppa + unnie = bannie!"
"So-jeong, rooms 1, 2, 3 are girls'. Go crash there. Someone drag So-jeong out!"
"Bunny bunny! Bannie bannie!"
She flailed one arm like a drinking song, glass in hand, going wild.
Puppy my ass!
Not a puppy—a filly. If puppy, definitely a beagle. To calm her, he agreed to a love shot. But wasn't it stage one? Yoo So-jeong stood and approached. He rose to meet her, and she pouted.
"Oppa, too tall! Bend down!"
"Alright, alright."
She wanted stage two like with Jeong Ha-yeon. At 164cm, she wasn't short for a girl, but he towered over her by 10+ cm. He crouched, pulling her into an embrace pose. They love-shot it down, and Jeong Ha-yeon grinned mischievously.
"Hahaha! Look at Seo Joo-hwan's face! He's loving it!"
"Kyaaak. You two date!"
"As expected of Joo-hwan hyung! So popular!"
Seo Joo-hwan hurriedly schooled his expression. Had he looked that thrilled? Just then, noise from the door.
"Whoa, what's this? Party central?"
Not one or two—others poured in through the open door.
"Let us join!"
"You guys are having a blast!"
The influx didn't stop. Group 7 made space, looking flustered.
"Other rooms lame? Why's everyone piling in?"
"Tons already crashed!"
"Hehe. Hardly anyone drinking. We brought leftovers!"
Made sense now. Publishing Content was mostly quiet types. Rare for a group like 7 to unite and party hard. Every game round added three or four more. Room count topped twenty. Latecomers spilled to the next room. Lee Seok-chan's was booming too.
After one massive round, another arrival: Baek Jeong-gi.
"Hot spot here! Mind if I join?"
No, get lost.
Seo Joo-hwan swallowed the words rising in his throat.
*
Baek Jeong-gi peeked into Group 7's room, eyes bulging. No mistake from the auditorium earlier.
Jeong Ha-yeon, was it? Damn, she's gorgeous. Why'd she cake on makeup like that before?
She'd been pretty enough, but not his type—too obviously plastic. But during the cross-dressing contest, her face was totally different. The soft, docile vibe vanished, replaced by sharp, icy allure. No artificial feel either; up close, he realized it was bare-faced and was shocked.
"Hot spot here! Mind if I join?"
Baek Jeong-gi acted like he'd just arrived and barged in, claiming a seat without waiting for an answer.