This passage is near the beginning of the book Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin. The protagonist Lou is walking with her friend Ansel whom she sees much like a younger brother.
“She keeps looking at you.” Ansel tripped over a stray limb, nearly landing face-first in the snow. Absalon leapt sleekly from his path.
“Of course she does. I’m objectively beautiful. A masterpiece made flesh.”
Ansel snorted.
“Excuse me?” Offended, I kicked snow in his direction, and he nearly tumbled again. “I don’t think I heard you correctly. The proper response was, ‘Goddess Divine, of course thy beauty is a sacred gift from Heaven, and we mortals are blessed to even gaze upon thy face.’”
“Goddess Divine.” He laughed harder now, brushing the snow from his coat. “Right.” (p.30-31)
I loved this moment between the protagonist and Ansel because it was one of the few moments of lightness in a very loss filled book. Later in the book, Ansel’s life is ended by the mother of the protagonist. His life is lamented by all who knew him well, as he is seen as one of the only characters who was pure and good. Lou, along with almost every other character in this book, grew up in a way which forced them to kill or be killed. It was what kept them alive. I believe Ansel’s death held a greater impact than many other deaths in this book because of the moments of lightness and humour the author allowed the readers to have with him.