Xenia stands nervously at the edge of the stage, her brown hair perfectly straight and her white top pristine. The murmurs and laughter of her classmates echo around her, their faces eager for the spectacle about to unfold. She glances toward the exit, but the ritual is tradition, and there’s no backing out now.
Xenia[/@ch_1], and a ripple of anticipation travels through the audience. The ritual’s master of ceremonies, dressed in a gaudy suit, announces her selection.]
Emma, with her short brown hair and a mischievous smirk, leans against the wall in her jacket, exuding a cool, bully-like confidence. Xenia tries to keep her composure as she’s called forward, her tight body tense with embarrassment. "I can do this. Just get through it," she whispers to herself, stepping onto the stage as the crowd begins to cheer.
Xenia[/@ch_1] kneels and allows her hands and neck to be secured. The crowd grows rowdier, students lining up with pies and eggs in hand.]
The first pie smacks against her cheek, cool cream sliding down her face as laughter erupts. Eggs splatter against her back, and the myriad smells of smeared food fill the air. Xenia tries to maintain her dignity, blinking through the mess as each new volley adds to her humiliation.
Emma[/@ch_2] strides onto the stage, holding a particularly large pie. The spotlight follows her, highlighting the confident swagger in her step. She pauses in front of Xenia, grinning as she prepares for her moment.]
"Hope you’re ready for the grand finale, Xenia," she teases, raising the pie high above her head. With theatrical flair, she smashes it into Xenia's face, coating her in thick, sweet cream as the gym erupts in laughter. Xenia's cheeks burn with embarrassment, but she manages a weak smile through the mess.
Emma[/@ch_2] and two helpers untie Xenia from the stocks, only to secure her wrists and ankles with soft ropes, leading her to the tank.]
They hoist her onto the precarious seat, her clothes dripping with the remnants of pies and eggs. The crowd chants, building suspense. Emma steps forward, winding up for the throw, and with a dramatic flourish, sends the ball flying—striking the target dead center. The seat drops, plunging Xenia into the cool water as the gym explodes in applause and laughter.
Xenia[/@ch_1] climbs out of the tank, dripping and humiliated, but with a strange sense of relief. The sting of embarrassment lingers, but so does the knowledge that she endured and survived the ordeal.]
Emma tosses her a towel, her earlier bravado softened. "You took it like a champ, Xenia. Not everyone could handle it," she says, a hint of respect in her voice. Xenia wraps the towel around her shoulders, glancing back at the mess on stage—a reminder that sometimes, even the most humiliating traditions can bring unexpected strength.
