#anchortask08

[kvleidoscopes]

𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍’𝐒 𝐓𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐎𝐍𝐘:

CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU WERE DOING AT DULCE TIERRA WINERY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED ?

addison cleared his throat and raised a brow, straining to remember what he was doing at the winery when the fire started. from how nervous they were, his palms were sweaty. “when the fire started? er, well, i can’t really say— i was there with a few friends, drinking wine, chatting up a storm, but mostly getting ourselves up-to-date with what’s going on... that’s it. i hadn’t noticed the fire until the very last minute, hence getting burnt. i dunno when the fire started since i was too engaged in the conversation and the wine. sorry.”

WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE PERPETRATORS WHO STARTED THE FIRE ?

“no, i couldn’t get a glimpse of them. it was impossible to see when the flames were starting to rise, and trying to get out of there in a swift motion.” addison’s life has never been swift whatsoever; the twenty-eight year old was a walking klutz and a massive scaredy-cat... to put it nicely. “i was too busy focusing on the pain i’d gotten.”

CAN YOU IDENTIFY FOR US THE PERPETRATORS IF THEY ARE IN THE COURTROOM ?

they had no idea who the perpetrators were, but he recognized one of them. they, however, couldn’t tell whether they were at fault or not — it could possibly be their naïveté. they only knew their small circle of supposed friends. “no, i can’t,” addison remarked, getting a little too anxious for his own good. “i didn’t get a good glimpse of them,” he scratched the bandaged area of his arm where one of his many burns was located.

HOW HAS THE FIRE AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY ?

“it affected my social life, but my confidence as well.” for someone who easily gave others hugs and an encouraging gesture, they have distanced themselves a great deal, and at an arm’s length. not to mention his siblings as well. the pain addy had endured from the burns (having to constantly heal them) didn’t help. hell, it was an entirely new feeling. “i know they are only second-degree burns... but they still feel very fresh and ache to an unbearable grade.” this wasn’t the first time for them.

[othcrside]

CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU WERE DOING AT DULCE TIERRA WINERY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED ?

Chiara was no stranger to the American court system, which is why she was perhaps the most prepared when it concerned testifying. She knew how to choose her words, and when to mince them if needed, but this was intrinsically different than her time spent in the juvenile circuit of law. "I was having a picnic with friends. I had brought homemade gnocchi and grilled plum salad, plus we'd ordered wine as well... I suppose we were all a bit—um, what is the word? ... Tipsy, yes. Well, it might have just been me who was tipsy. When I'm tipsy, it feels like everyone else is, too. But, yes, we were all together and discussing nothing in particular. It was a very nice day... In the beginning." In her lap, she wrang her hands together, soaking up all the heat created by the friction between her palms. This day couldn't have ended sooner.

WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE PERPETRATORS WHO STARTED THE FIRE ?

"Um, I thought I had seen a glimpse of them from afar, but the pain had... It had gotten worse, so I couldn't really pay attention to any details. There are a few things that I've remembered from the incident, I'm not certain any would be helpful, though." She had wished she could discern more from their appearance—but the pain had muddled all her thoughts. She couldn't douse the phantom fire that licked over her still-healing wounds, even then.

CAN YOU IDENTIFY FOR US THE PERPETRATORS IF THEY ARE IN THE COURTROOM ?

Crystalline eyes drifted from suspect to suspect. When they fixed upon the pink, permed hair that had since fleeted from her conscious memory, she felt her lungs backpedal and her burns begin festering deeper. Wordlessly, she nodded toward Mintra Jix. "... I remember her," she spoke up. Hurt tinged her words as she found herself face-to-face with the cause of her disfigurement. "She was there. She was holding the matches."

HOW HAS THE FIRE AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY ?

"It has... Impacted my confidence, having so many burns. It hurts often, and sometimes even pain pills don't help," she expressed truthfully, her eyes now trained back in her lap where she kept folding and unfolding her hands into one another. "I don't feel safe in many places anymore. Sometimes my own home. I'm worried that something may happen if I'm not paying attention, like I wasn't at the winery. Mostly, I just—I've lost time and money being like this, just because some... Imbecili."

[boldtenaciity]

"The prosecution may call its first witness."

Speaking in front of a crowd isn't a new skill for Naji, having spoken at countless pressers and interviews; but this time is so different. This time, he's accompanied by a bailiff, and swearing to tell the truth in front of a judge. Clad in a short-sleeve, light blue button-down with an American flag patch on one sleeve, N. HARPER embroidered on one breast, and a Maltese cross with ANCHORAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT shining from the other breast, he feels so fucking official. Hair bleached white and an arm representing a sketchbook of flash tattoos might make him not the most professional-looking representative; but fuck if he's going to let his appearance hinder his performance in any way.

"Please state your full name for the record," the DA instructs him.

"Naji Maruf Harper," he speaks clearly into the microphone on the witness stand.

"Okay, and please spell that out."

The urge to roll his eyes is so fucking strong—there's nothing complicated about his name, it's very simple!—but he resists and complies, stating each letter in his name before sitting back."

"Mr. Harper, where do you work?"

"Anchorage Fire Department, sir. At Station One."

"Alright, and what is your official title?"

"Firefighter, sir."

"And how long have you been employed at Anchorage Fire Department?"

Naji's thumb absently rubs over a tattoo on the opposite wrist. The questioning is actually making him more nervous than he expected. "Since February 2022." When the summons had landed at AFD, as one of the firefighters on duty he'd been suggested to act as one of their witnesses for his very first trial, since he's still one of the less experienced firefighters at the station right now.

"As a firefighter, did you respond to the fire at Rabbit Creek?" The DA's gaze is so intense; Naji's becoming more afraid of fucking this up.

"Yes, sir, I did."

"Alright, Mr. Harper, could you walk us through the order of events when you arrived on the scene?"

With a deep inhale through his nose, the bottle blond recomposes himself so he can recall the exact words he's practiced. “Yes, sir. We proceeded like any other structure fire. I arrived on the engine and we surveyed the scene to see if there was anything like downed power lines or people waving for help. Then my higher-ups assigned roles for each of us on the engine, and it was my job to help pull the hose off of the truck to run a supply line to the nearest fire hydrant. I was also involved with directing the water towards the fire to control the flames. Once the blaze was put out, we each carefully surveyed the scene to find any evidence for what could have caused the fire.”

The DA nods along, "Did you find any evidence on the scene of what you believe to have started the fire or its intentional path?"

“There was a very strong scent of lighter fluid on the scene, which typically indicates an intentional arson case. There was also a clear path that the fire followed, along the lighter fluid that had been poured."

"Were you able to see the perpetrators who started the fire?"

Lapis eyes train onto the accused in a knowing glare—he knows what he fucking saw—and then rest on the prosecutor once more. "Yes, sir, I believe I did."

"Can you identify for us the perpetrators if they are in the courtroom?"

"The defendants, sir."

The prosecutor gives a single, solemn nod. "I have just one more question for you. Can you state for us the effect on the community that you've witnessed this criminal arson has had?"

Pearly whites score over the inside of Naji's lower lip; his leg begins to bounce. “Not only am I a servant for the community, I was also born and raised here too. The Anchorage I know has always been pretty insular and trusting, watching out for each other and taking care of each other. But the events of this arson have made a lot of people very fearful and distrustful of their neighbors and fellow citizens. Adding this on top of the…other things that have been going on is only further fracturing the community we have here, when we should be closer than ever. This isn't the Anchorage that I know.”

"Thank you, Mr. Harper, for your time and cooperation." The DA turns to the judge, "Thank you, Your Honor, no further questions."

[andreaxweber]

CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU WERE DOING AT DULCE TIERRA WINERY WHEN THE FIRE STARTED ?

Andrea was quiet as a mouse before she gave her statement, taking in a deep breath before she spoke. "Well I remember it being my day off, I just wanted to get out of the apartment for the day and I thought that it would be a good idea to go to the winery, since it's been a long time since I was there." She closed her eyes, taking in a shaky breath before speaking once more. "I was about to head home when the fire started, it scared me to my core."

WERE YOU ABLE TO SEE THE PERPETRATORS WHO STARTED THE FIRE ? CAN YOU IDENTIFY FOR US THE PERPETRATORS IF THEY ARE IN THE COURTROOM ?

"I wish that I could, but I just remember being in such a panic that I was just,frozen to the spot, I couldn't take my eyes off the flames before I realised I had to run away. I could see somebody running away from where I think it was started, but all I could see was their back, no face."

HOW HAS THE FIRE AFFECTED YOU PERSONALLY ?

Andrea winced as she slowly pulled the jacket that she had been wearing, revealing her arms still covered in bandages, however they had been lighter than the ones she had been wearing previously. "I was burned on my arms and legs, second degree burns is what the doctor told me. I had to take time off work, I've gone back but I'm basically in the office because my arms still hurt when I move them too much."