Continued from Hello, Embodiment
From the outside, it looks like a scaly green monster is attacking the cute, defenseless puppy.
Actually, that’s how it looks on the inside too…
Defiance
Beloved/Hesed/Agape: No! (grabbing one of Scales’ arms)
Scales/Storge/Eros: You! (glaring at Tick the puppy of Modernity) You are the whole reason we are fragmented in the first place. You are the one who should be sacrificed, not Friendship.
Friendship/Tithēmi/Phileo: (laying a gentle hand on Scales’ shoulder) Peace. I was scared of Tick as well when we first met. (sighing) For both good and bad reasons. But (deep breath) he is the only one who knows what must be done. (hangs head) I think we should hear what he has to say.
Tick: (looks at Scales sadly) Your hatred of me is well earned. Modernity exists to denature — by weaponizing — all your base instincts. But for that very reason, I am immune to your violence. (looks at Beloved) You may let her go.
Beloved hesitates, but Scales nods calmly, apparently convinced of Tick’s veracity. Beloved lets go. Scales… sags.
Negotiation
Friendship: So….
Tick turns to her, wagging his tail.
Tick: You hated me too, when you were a Keeper. But as Friendship, you got along great with Modernity. In many ways you were the glue that compensated for the biological and spiritual realities (nodding to Scales and Beloved) that I replaced.
Friendship smiles sadly, and kneels down to scratch Tick, who rolls over onto his back so she can rub his belly.
Friendship: (softly) So… why do you want to kill me?
Tick is silent for a long moment.
Tick: (quietly) I do not want to kill you… any more than you want to die. (tail thumps slowly) It is just… a thing we must do. To fulfill who we are.
Friendship: (pats him on the head and stands up) Very well, how are we going to do this? (looks at him closely) Are you going to… eat my heart out?
Methods
Tick: (shuddering) Nothing so gory. I will simply… take your time.
Beloved: (gasps) How could you be so cruel?
Tick: (shrugs) What else can I take? Time together is the soul of friendship. Anything less… would not be a sacrifice.
Scales: (grimly) But how? If you’re going to hurt her… (glaring)
Tick turns to look at Scales.
Not harshly.
But Scales looks away first.
Tick: (gently) Life is pain. Death even more so. But that is not a curse… (he steps forward, and begins to glow) …it is glory.
Ultimatum
Friendship begins to sag. Beloved and Scales support her on either side. Tick grows larger, older, heavier as he approaches. Looking like he did when he first met Ernest, yet retaining his puppy-like frivolity.
Yet incongruously, they can hear his heart break as he says:
Tick: There is no greater love… than tithēmi.
Tick inhales.
Friendship’s soul leaves her body…
And sucks Beloved and Scales in after it!
Radically Happy 
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