A Minute With: A House Jhulyr Beastmaster

I want to adopt a cute pet in your world. What is it and how do I look after one?

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mm. Not too big; bit soft; no magic; sturdy; reasonably healthyH; only moderately attractive, but that's to be expected...you might make a decent pet. For me. Do you know any tricks, aside from beg?
Relax. Merely a jest. We aren't in the habit of selling our patrons. At least, not often.
To satisfy your curiosity, you must first satisfy mine: what, exactly, do you humans consider "cute"? I admit, my personal experience with your kind is limited. I am of the half of the House that breeds and trains the beasts we use in the city. The other half handles humans and other lesser species, but they certainly aren't interested in your opinions on anything. What a rare and exciting opportunity for you! Despite being both non-drow and male, you get to teach a Jhulyr female something. Now, make good use of it...
So to humans, creatures that resemble their own young are "cute". Small, with large eyes, a large head, and short, thick limbs. That certainly doen't make for a useful creature, the proportions are all wrong. Why would you want such a thing?
The appearance makes you want to take care of it? So let me get this straight: humans are attracted to things that exploit a natural weakness of yours to their own advantage. How very convenient for me! I thought only elves did silly things like that. Are you humans much like elves? I've heard you're like everything, and yet like nothing else. In multiple regards.
Are you blushing, human? So modest. I will enjoy you.
But, business before pleasure. We don't have many creatures that fit your description. While we in House Jhulyr do run very extensive breeding programs, we don't waste resources on things that don't serve somehow. Of course, we're always open to special or more exotic requests if there is sufficient benefit to do so. Sometimes, the challenge alone is reason enough. There's something special about taking a wild, unruly animal and shaping it to your will. We pride ourselves on our ability to draw obedience out of any creature.
Speaking for myself, the magic all starts with a proper training lash, like this one. A simple tool, but its reach makes it unrivaled for ensuring the animal never forgets who is control, even at distance. But what to show you? Oh, here's a riddle for you: if a creature can appear to be several feet from its actual location, what does it mean when you don't see it?
Hahaha! Yes! That scream was a perfect answer! And, as you can see, very accurate! Oh wait, you don't see anything, do you. Let's fix that for you, just as soon as I pry these little jaws from your ankle... My, that's an impressive bite. You there, halfling: tend to his wounds. And do a proper job. I don't want him impaired later.
Let me introduce you to the handsome little imp that nibbled you. This is Velkyn, he's an eight week old displacer beast cub. Don't be cross, he was only playing with you. He's a lively boy, bold, with an exceptional prey drive -- and look at these paws! They're comically large now, but he'll be a very fine hunter by the time he grows into them. You had no idea he was stalking you until it was too late, did you? Aww, listen to that purr: he knows he did well. In about another week, he will begin intensive training to teach him to curb his desire to kill until told to do so. Most of his prey will be sentient; his handlers may wish to take it alive or interrogate it before letting him have his way with it. Patience is a virtue, even in beasts.
Velkyn is a good example of an creature we're raising by request. Matron Iv'dinnis is very fond of displacers; we have bred and raised them for her for centuries. Velkyn is going to her as well. Having something to do with the way the natural energies of the Dark and their fey nature interact, displacer beasts raised here tend to be somewhat smaller than ones raised elsewhere. Their displacement ability also serves them a bit differently in the Dark than it would in the Twilight or Light. But they're clever predators, and have learned to use the shadows to their advantage. In our House, we use these special collars to ensure the displacers are always visible to those of us who handle them. As for everyone else...well, this is the Dark, after all.
Don't be shy, it's safe to pet him. His fur is smooth and dense, and he likes to be scratched beneath the chin and behind his little ears. See? Just be careful, in case he decides to go after your wrist. Does he count as "cute"? He's very much a baby, his tentacles have barely even begun to bud yet. I find him very endearing.
You'd prefer something less likely to kill you.
I like your sense of humor, human. It makes you that much more tantalizing.
I suppose that rules out the rest of the carnivores, and your affinity for warm-blooded -- oh my. I nearly forgot that one! We will need to go out to the pens. How is your ankle? Let me see you walk.
Hm. Bugbear, you are being reassigned: hold the halfling here until I return. If his work on the human's ankle proves insufficient, he will be fed to the adult displacers. If he escapes you, will share his fate. We will see if it will be our adults here, or -- ooh, the Arena pack. They haven't been fed in about a week. It would be brief, but adequately amusing.
Come along, human. We have a variety of deep goat that will surely match your idea. Benign, forgettable creature; except that it has a valuable coat, and the ability to survive on just about anything. For its size and ease of care, there's nothing better for quickly disposing of inconvenient...objects. I will show you a few of them, and then you will come to my bedchamber and show me a few things. Won't that be fun?