What word am I thinking of?

[Alice Heritage]

L is out to lunch but T and E got to eat.

T E _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ T _ _ _

No BL

[Manang Muyang]

Why oh Y?

[Alice Heritage]

Why, there is no y.

T E _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ T _ _ _

No BLY

[Manang Muyang]

An R seems required.

[Alice Heritage]

R does have a role.

T E R _ _ _ E R _ _ T _ _ _

no BLY

[Gravy]

Advancing with an A?

[Alice Heritage]

A is on the attack!

T E R _ _ _ E R _ A T _ _ _

No BLY

[Manang Muyang]

Is I invited?

[Alice Heritage]

Yes, I was included:

T E R _ I _ E R _ A T I _ _

no BLY

[Manang Muyang]

Sometimes I have to resort to harmless tergiversation to avoid hurting someone's feelings. But who is to define "harmless"?

[Alice Heritage]

Eh, I don't know, but brutal honesty can be as seemingly harmful as dishonesty. You got it, over to you!

[Manang Muyang]

Wise words. At least, nobody can deny the truth that the next word has 8 letters.

[Alice Heritage]

I'll take an O for 'onest.

[Manang Muyang]

'Onest O ain't okay for now.

[Alice Heritage]

I'll fish for an F.