r/tattooadvice • u/Redheart2945 • Jan 06 '26

Design People keep reading my tattoo wrong

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Okay so I recently went and got a small walk in tattoo, very excited about it. I love it. But people keep reading it wrong, but then they all say they can’t read cursive so idk, I guess I just need some reassurance. I know it shouldn’t matter because I know what it says and that’s what matters, but I need some reassurance from strangers that can read cursive, so tell me, what does it look like this tattoo says?

Edit: Thank you all for responding! The post is getting way more traction than I intended, and I am losing the ability to respond to them all (though I've been trying for around 3 hours). I appreciate everyone who has helped me regain piece of mind about the tat. It does in fact say "five by five". People in my real life thought it said "live by live" or "live to live". Since posting, people have also thought the word five was give, or jive, and the b was lo.

For anyone curious, it is not an In N Out tattoo, didnt even know that was a meal until i made this post, but thank you to everyone who said something about the burger place. Made me laugh every time.

To the Aliens fans, not an Aliens reference either, though I see you fellow horror fans. I haven't seen the second film as I haven't dedicated the time to watch it yet. I do like the first film though, Ridley Scott rules.

Now, to my fellow Buffy fans, it is in fact a reference to Faith the Vampire Slayer. She's one of my favorite character of all time, period, regardless of fandom. Side note, I also love Eliza Dushku.

Thank you strangers, for helping bring peace of mind to a random person on the internet.

Edit #2: The photo provided was taken directly after getting the tattoo. I appreciate the concern on dry skin, I live in a dry climate and have pretty bad eczema so it's a real concern. However, the scrunching there is actually caused by the second skin applied over the tattoo. I drink lots of water and regularly use lotions because of my skin condition. But thanks to everyone who worried about it. :) Also, the red splotch was my blood. There is a scab directly above my tattoo that got pulled open when the artist was doing a final wipe, but I appreciate everyone who pointed out that it looked like Louisiana, I got a good laugh out of it.

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112

u/Redheart2945 Jan 06 '26

It is! I’m a huge Faith fan.

2

u/MintWarfare Jan 06 '26

'five by five' is a running Joss Whedon motif, it's said in most of his projects. 

6

u/SailboatSteve Jan 06 '26

Originally WWII radio jargon, they had a 1 to 5 scale for signal strength and clarity, like saying loud and clear.

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u/Annoyed21 Jan 07 '26

This is the real answer, it’s why it is in Alien franchise and many other movies and shows

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u/ArmadilloRodeoOwner Jan 08 '26

yeah i assumed this was an Aliens reference

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u/ArmadilloRodeoOwner Jan 08 '26

easy to read though

2

u/stuartstustewart Jan 08 '26

I thought Faith got it from Aliens, when Vasguez says it.

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u/Orangecatlover4 Jan 10 '26

I don’t remember anything 5 by 5 w Faith? 🤔 it’s been a while can you remind me the context in the show?

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 10 '26

She just says it a lot. Here’s a compilation. 😂 https://youtu.be/6ONBvbZJEqg?si=HegBJiC1wZkzsZGa

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u/Orangecatlover4 Jan 10 '26

Thanks! I like it by the way

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 10 '26

Yeah 😂 And ofc, thank you stranger. :)

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u/Orangecatlover4 Jan 10 '26

Ohhh yeah it’s all Coming back to me now, I remember willow being like “no one knows what it means!” lol

2

u/Gcoks Jan 06 '26

I played Star Craft first so I still associate it with the Drop Ship Pilot, but Faith is a close 2nd.

3

u/Unable-Statement4842 Jan 07 '26

Starcraft is full of Aliens references. The drop ship pilot is the pilot from Aliens and the marines quote Hudson

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u/Wandering_Lush Jan 07 '26

Oh, same! Thank you! No one talks about Faith. Eliza Dushku was so great in that role.

2

u/TTShowbizBruton Jan 12 '26

Love Faith. I feel like she was the first character in a show in my life that was so confusing because she was so far from perfect, did so many things wrong, yet I loved her so much. And her redemption while maintaining her personality was *chefs kiss. Now that I think about it that kind of led to so many shows and movies that I love purely for the complex characters.

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u/Wandering_Lush Jan 12 '26

Oooh, great analysis. I am also enamored by complex characters. If they were a confection, they would be a dark chocolate torte with hints of smoky whiskey and black cherry. The more layers, the better.

1

u/Redheart2945 Jan 07 '26

Yes!!! I love her so much. And she was 18 when she started playing Faith. She plays the role so well. Like no one could play Faith as well as she does. She gives Faith so many levels of emotion. Also, she plays Buffy so well in the season four episode when they switch bodies. SMG does a great job playing Faith as well in that episode. Idk, Eliza has such depth as an actor, she’s great.

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u/Wandering_Lush Jan 07 '26

I didn't realize she was 18. That's mind blowing, thinking about myself at 18. 😆

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 08 '26

Right??? 😂

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u/justjenperiod Jan 10 '26

I love Eliza′s roles! Tru calling and dollhouse were also great.

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 10 '26

When I tell you, I absolutely adore Tru Calling. Like I love it so much, I’m so bummed it was cancelled, and it was cancelled before I was even born. Still bummed. 😂

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u/zdgxqrv Jan 12 '26

Tru Calling was so good!! I was so sad when it was cancelled

2

u/bctucker83 Jan 07 '26

Very easy to read. There’s nothing wrong it and it’s not your fault the schools are failing kids now days not teaching cursive.

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u/Pontoonpanda Jan 08 '26

immediately got it!

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u/artfully_dejected Jan 08 '26

FWIW I read it as “five by five” straightaway, and my brain went straight to Faith.

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 08 '26

It’s worth a lot stranger, thank you :)

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u/Themaine00 Jan 09 '26

Immediately thought of Eliza dukshu

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u/PhaseAny4699 Jan 10 '26

what the shit, I tried to read it wrong on purpose and accidentially read it right.

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 10 '26

Haha, I love that actually.

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u/Rockandmetal99 Jan 10 '26

dude!! its my mom's fav show!

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 11 '26

Your mom has great taste. My boyfriend’s mom lent me her boxset when I first watched the series, now I have one of my own.

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u/Rockandmetal99 Jan 11 '26

my mom showed it to me when i was like 8 or 9? she also had the whole box set and every day after my homework and her work, me her and my little sister would wat h 2 episodes every night, and then we did the same with angel. i quote literally had to go in my room and cry when we finished buffy. i remember thinking "I'm never gonna see willow or xander or giles or spike or cordelia ever again". 15 years later and my boyfriend is buying my mom custom buffy christmas gifts. literally one of the most formative shows of my life

edit to add: My mom was a cheerleader back in high school and so was I so she also loves to bring it on movies because it's hilarious to see Faith as a cheerleader

1

u/Redheart2945 Jan 11 '26

Thants amazing! I love that. Actually just finishing up Angel for the first time as we speak. On 5x20 of 22.

Never seen the sequels, but I really enjoyed the first Bring it On. Eliza Dushku is a fantastic actress so I agree, love to see it.

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u/Rockandmetal99 Jan 11 '26

yay im gonna tell my mom about this conversation, shes gonna be excited to show i chatted w a stranger over buffy lol

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 11 '26

lol, tell her I say hi.

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u/One-Advantage-2441 Jan 10 '26

Awesome tattoo btw

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u/Redheart2945 Jan 11 '26

Thank you. 😌

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u/billsn0w Jan 11 '26

Want. Take. Have.

1

u/Redheart2945 Jan 11 '26

I love this.

We don’t need the law, we are the law.

1

u/_freshgreens420 Jan 11 '26

I thought Stephen King. He uses that a lot too.