In a bid to celebrate their close bond, it's common to see two friends securing their relationship with matching tattoos. Whilst quirky markings have undoubtedly made their rounds across the internet, two best friends have taken matching ink to a new extreme after swaying from stereotypical options.
Content Creator Karlton Armstrong and Assistant Manager Hannah Neighbour documented getting their matching tattoos on popular video-streaming service TikTok - and the ink is simply to die for. The two besties opted for an alternative and quirky option of a popular childhood snack - but have since revealed there's a heartfelt meaning behind it.
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In the video, which has already surpassed a jaw-dropping 5.5 million views to date, TikToker @ bleachblondeboi joked that "normal friends" would get "matching star tattoos".
In awarding originality, the duo instead opted for Kinder's iconic chocolate biscuit Happy Hippo - after spontaneously stepping foot into a walk-in tattoo parlour without even checking the artist's work.
The process of getting the tattoo may have been impulsive - but after Hannh, 23, and Karlton, 23, spoke exclusively with The Mirror, they have since confirmed that the mark holds a message other than face value.
Whilst it initially seemed as if the tattoo was simply a hilarious joke, Kam from Leicester has confirmed that the marking is a symbolism of their friendship.
The pair - who have been best friends since meeting at the University of Bristol - are both "obsessed" with hippos.
Whilst the the tattoo simply "made sense", it was still "hilarious and spontaneous" all at once.
Karlton told The Mirror: "So, the tattoo has meaning behind it, but was very spontaneous.
"Living with me can be difficult and a way to ease tension was a Happy Hippo as they'd always calm any temper - I can't explain it, but it's one of my childhood treats.
"My best friend would always throw one at me if we had an argument or if she felt I was in need of one, usually from breakups, etc.
"So I jokingly said we should get one and then spontaneously we walked into a tattoo shop nearby who had a cancellation and we got it without looking at any of the work."
"There is nothing we don't share so a tattoo just made sense," he added.
Karlton - otherwise known as Kam - passes his thanks for the viral clip on social media to his bestie Hannah from Bristol - whose idea it was to share the story.
The content created gushed: "It got a few hundred videos as my usual ones do and I just woke up at 1am to my phone buzzing and spamming out
"And as I was refreshing it was going up by the thousands at a time!"
What has now turned into an internet sensation on TikTok - skyrocketing with views as we speak - initially started as a heartfelt gesture.
Hannah explained: "We decided we didn't want something generic and wanted something specific to us and our friendship. That's where the Happy Hippo idea came in.
"Every time he's feeling sad or down I get him a Happy Hippo, and it became a running joke.
"Even when my mum would go for a food shop she'd ask if I needed any Happy Hippos for Karlton."
The best friends have held a close relationship for five years now - having met after both studying zoological management with conservation.
They moved in together during their third year and proceeded to live together the following year after they graduated before Karlton decided to move back home.
Whilst Hannah's heartfelt gesture to gift Karlton the uplifting chocolate biscuit stems back a few years, Hannah has since admitted that getting the tattoo itself had "far less thought".
She said: "The idea of the tattoos was around, but we didn't know where any places were in town and that would be available to do it on the day."
"As we were walking into the shopping centre, I spotted the tattoo shop with a sign saying they were open for walk-ins. We went in and 30 minutes later we were being tattooed.
"He's my best friend and my soul mate, but in a friendly way."
It's no wonder that Karlton grew a liking to the popular biscuit after claiming that Kinder is his "favourite brand of chocolate" - and would be elated to see their response to the video.
He explained: "Kinder hasn't been in contact yet, it personally would make my day if they did, but I couldn't find their TikTok account if they do have one otherwise I'd have tagged them.
"They're my favourite brand of chocolate and always have been."
Kinder has been contacted for a comment.
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