One of the games (also known as "alienation tools") I used to play with play with prospective mates was the "What Animal Would You Be" game.
This usually consisted of asking the question, as I'm sure you suspect by now, "What animal would you be?" This would then be followed by discussion about the difference between what animal you want to be versus the animal you actually would be if your essence was somehow distilled and transformed. It was actually one of the better ways I've found to determine compatibility. If I got a blank stare, an emphatic "A horsie! I want to be a horsie!" or "A basilisk. I AM a basilisk," I knew this was not the woman for me.
I actually can't remember what Shannon, my current wife (AND ONLY! AND ONLY! FOREVER AND EVER!), originally said, since we've had the conversation several times over the years, and has become more about the idea of distilling one's nature into a beast than anything else.
It was always interesting to hear what other people thought I was, too. I've gotten cat, bear, horse, ape, and dog. Probably others. Nothing really cool. Usually bear. To people's credit, I am possessed of a vaguely ursine appearance, but that does go a little counter to the whole "distill your essence" thing. I mean, I don't even really like fish that much.
In any case, I now think of myself more as a cuttlefish. And no, it's not because they look like the offspring of an ancient evil, though it doesn't hurt. We just share a common soul is all. Wikipedia says cuttlefish "cannot tolerate abrupt changes in light levels, they cannot coexist with other animals, and rarely ever with other cuttlefish. All other animals of comparable or smaller size, including other cuttlefish, are instinctively seen as food."
Yes, my tentacled brothers. I understand you.
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