"One day, one day people will love them. People will fight for them. People will care for them. Not many can handle them. Many cannot even appreciate them. When you walked into this shop, my systems began researching you, judging you, analysing you. Now, answer me this question," The old man sat up, his permanently shut eyes bore into hers, "are you worthy of them?"
Silver eyes blinked, "Uh, yes?"
The grizzled man laughed, "Good, very good. You have done well Ruby Rose, very, very well, congratulations you pass."
"How do you know my name?" The elderly man who seemed to border on delusional laughed, "Details, details."
Ruby was beginning to doubt not only the sanity of the shopkeeper before her but also these 'Combat skirts' he sold. Drat, she should have known that anything both Yang and Qrow advised against would be a bad idea. But she had ignored all the red flags in the face of Qrow blushing madly as Tai retold the story of a kilt he had bought from a kooky old man who sold 'Combat skirts' to Huntresses and Hunters.
"Now come with me Ruby, and you can realise your dreams, go forth to realms untouched by men, tame monsters wilder than the imagination, all of this begins, with a combat skirt. Let us chose." Ruby attempted to use her Semblance and leave the shop, but the man already had a strong grip on her shoulder.
"Of course, it's not the Huntress that choses the combat skirt but rather the combat skirt that choses the Huntress." He muttered to himself, bringing from the shadows a selection of red skirts.
"Um, sir, all of these are the same…" Ruby said struggling.
"No!" He exploded, "They are not the same!" He cried, "Can't you see?! This one is cerise and this one," He yelled shoving a pink skirt in her face, "is salmon! Oh, whoops." He began laughing.
Ruby nervously chuckled desperate to leave, when the man realised she did not get the joke he explained, "Salmon is actually a shade of pink, I don't know what it's doing in the red section."
Ruby stopped, "Wait, you have more?!"
"But of course my child, why just yesterday I sold my lovely sapphire skirt." In a lower voice he rasped, "I miss Saphy."
"Oo-kay, why don't I just take this one." Ruby said grabbing a crimson skirt.
"Her name is Crim," his hands clutched onto the red material tightly, "you have chosen well."
He sniffed the skirt, "Yes, there is much compatibility between the two of you."
"Cool, so I'll just take this." Ruby grabbed the skirt.
"And I'll pay." She gave a gentle tug to convey her meaning.
"And I'll leave." She gave a grunt of exertion in an attempt to use sheer force.
"And I'll get a plate of cookies." She tried to prise off the old man's fingers.
Finally he spoke, "L-leave? Silly girl you can't leave." He flashed her a demented smile, "It's been so long since me and my darlings have had company and that Schnee girl from yesterday ran before we could have an in depth talk about the thread and how it's made out of cat's hairballs and infused with dust."
Ruby really wanted to follow in the footsteps of this 'Schnee girl' she seemed like someone Ruby would get along with. A smaller part of her brain told her to get her priorities straight. "Yes, you need to meet Crim's family before you leave, they'll be ever so devastated. But you know this is just how things happen, the bird eventually leaves the nest."
5 Hours later...
"Yes, yes, you simply must come back."
"Okaygreatbyenowseeyounever!" Ruby mumbled before dashing out of the seemingly inconspicuous shop that housed more terrors than all of the Grimm in Remnant.
The shopkeeper sighed, "My precious…"
A darker glint entered his eyes, "She stole my precious!"
The shadow around his face disappeared, "No! We must not! We sold it to her!"
A stranger glow shrouded him, "Dobby is FREE!"
AN: Please don't ask.