What a Bunch of Rubbish
Regulus Black did not believe whatever was going through the news right now. It was laughable. "What a bunch of rubbish. I mean, can you believe that such a thing can happen? People rising from the dead? Becoming brainless and animalistic, without already having some kind of fucked up problem? It's just not physically possible.." he sighed and shook his head as he was on the line with Barty and Evan.
"Reckon it's just a prank? A really big one that somehow-" Barty started, amusement thick in his voice. Apparently, he didn't believe any of this either. Which, Regulus supposed, could be a relief, he wasn't crazy for believing such idiocy even if it was being shared by government officials. It wasn't comforting though, that sort of thing was never comforting coming from Barty.
"-that somehow even officials are supporting?" Evan spoke up, cutting Barty off on the line.
Regulus shuffled against the alley wall he was leaning against, phone close to his ear, and watching people move frantically by. Such a rush.. He didn't even have a clue whether to believe all these theories or not. It was just too much in too little time. He was a meticulous person. How was he supposed to fit a whole new kind of life into the one he had now?
Barty was cut quiet by Evan, not really able to form a reply to that, Regulus guessed. Though, Regulus wasn't able to form a reply either. So they were in that boat together, couldn't really tell him off now, could he?
After a few moments of silence Regulus spoke up, controlling his voice, forcing any sort of anxiety down, "What are we going to be doing now? I have no idea if were to actually consider this something that's true and part of our life now." Looking down at his shoes, Regulus thought hard. Drowning out any of the background noise of people moving about outside of the alley he was hiding in. He almost didn't catch what Evan replied with if he didn't hear the way it was starting to become more distorted.
"Evan?" Regulus called out into the phone. He could hear Barty speak too.
Regulus furrowed his eyebrows, frowning, trying to gain understanding and control of the situation. Why couldn't it be perfect? He needed to talk, why did this stupid phone not want to work? Pulling the phone away from his ear, he looks down at the screen, more notifications about news outlets releasing and desperately asking for more information from and to the public about the ongoing events. He ignored this and swiped through, the phone working more slowly than usual, his finger hovering about the "End Call" button before his phone started ringing. Another pop up pushed it's way onto his phone. Eyes widening, Regulus freezes. It was his mother calling him, ah shit. Quickly pressing the decline button, Regulus calms his racing heart and his hand trembles as he places the phone back to his ear. Calming himself down. Succeeding in it. 1...2....3... Count the numbers, Breathe in, Hold, Breathe out.. He knew he couldn't ignore his mother forever, but if he could ignore it for now. He will.
It wasn't long before Regulus started contemplating whether to log off the call and retry before he heard the voices clear up again, "Oh, your back. Your voices are good now. I only heard Evan say that we ought to stick together.."
He heard Barty clear his throat, almost obnoxiously, and Regulus rolled his eyes. Ignoring him and instead focusing on what Evan was saying, "Right. Yes. I was saying we should stick together. It was always better to stick in groups, wasn't it? Especially in those books you've read before, Regulus? They were about an apocalypse, right?" Teasing, Regulus could hear it. The lilt at the end of Evan's manner of speaking and the way he sounded almost smug. Oh, the constant teasing from them about ever looking at those sorts of books. It wasn't the sort that Regulus would read, it wasn't him, and they knew. They also knew that Regulus would comment about every little thing that didn't make sense or have any logical reasoning to it, like he was genuinely hating on the book, spurring them both on more to continue teasing Regulus that he picked up such a book.
Sighing, Regulus almost wanted to strangle himself with humiliation for even looking at those sort of books, how distasteful, he would think back, reading something that was so fantastical and unreal. "Never was proud of it," he replied, and could faintly hear Barty laugh on the other side along with Evan chuckling a bit. "Right. Well, it had a very repetitive idea that people should stick together. I think it's necess-"
There it was again, Regulus tensed. The crackling and distortion of Evan's voice on the line. And Barty's as he could pick out Barty trying to talk over Evan. It lasted a bit longer than the time before. It was something significant happening. Regulus knew.
"It happened again. The distortion. We need to do something about this," Regulus said after waiting to make sure the distortion was over for now. He could hear Evan reply back in agreement and Barty muttering a few words, which, Regulus hoped was in agreement as well. "You two are together right now, am I right?" Regulus asked, making sure he can keep track of their whereabouts now. It will be very important to make sure he knew none of his friends' lives were in danger if all these crazy news stories were true. Though, he wouldn't admit that.
"Awh, Reggie? Thanks for asking. We sure are. A lot of snogging and amazing-," Barty spoke up, joking around, again. Regulus sighed and shook his head, frowning, cutting him off before needing to hear more about their relationship, "I do not want to hear about any sort of endeavours you have. That's private. Keep it that way. Also? Don't. Call me That." It was fruitless though, Regulus knew, and he also knew he wasn't going to actually force Barty to stop with his antics. Especially right now. And Barty wouldn't listen anyways.
"Make sure you guys stay together. Do not wander off without each other by any means. Particularly at this moment in time."
"Got it, boss"
"Oh, shut it now, will you?" he could almost imagine the smirk Barty would have over his face, the playful glint in his eyes.
"I need to get back to my parents now. They will be asking where I was. I'll contact you later," Regulus mumbles into the phone, detesting to have to go back into the cold and overbearing walls of his house. Thankfully, Evan and Barty both remained quiet after listening and saying they'll be waiting for the call.
"We'll miss you," Barty says with humor in his voice before hanging up.
Regulus scoff-snorts as he heard that, shaking his head and running his finger through his curls as he looked down at his phone. Rolling his shoulders back a few times, Regulus sucked in a sharp breathe and could feel himself slip back into the person his parents were molding him into, the mask that they were fixing on his face. Regulus slipped his phone into his pocket along with his hands after almost snagging one of his rings on the edge of the pocket as he did so.
Out he walked from the alleyway. Almost wincing by how bright it was compared to the dark corners of the alleyway. Foolish, he thought to himself- Letting himself go into such a dark place just to talk to Barty and Evan. However, Regulus didn't want his phone snatched away from him while he was in the middle of call, and walking along the streets on his phone. That was a dull-witted choice, too.
Regulus tugged on a curl with his finger, shaping his hair a bit as he walked home with a quick pace, thinking a bit as he did so. Huffing slightly, he looked around as he walked. Everyone was busy, looking frantic and wide eyed. No measure and controlled steps were found to be common. It was hectic, and Regulus wanted out of this area as quickly as possible. He was not about to take chances with such a filled street of people lugging around grocer bags and all sorts of things to the brim, having no sense to calm down and be more measured with their steps. He saw it happen occasionally as he made his way to his house- people bumping into each other and belongings scattering everywhere. What a sight. Rolling his eyes, Regulus walked past a rolling orange and, teepee rolls that were unraveling into the road. What a waste, he scoffed as he walked up the slight set of steps up to the front door and opened the door.
Almost immediately, he could feel the tense atmosphere of this cold and cruel house.