ask-whumptown

[ask-whumptown]

Hey there, 4*TOWN, If you know me, I'm such a massive fan and I've been listening to your music non-stop!

Now, I just have a question for all of you boys...

Out of all the singles from your discography, which one is your favourite and what is it that you like about it?

Robaire waves to you. "Hello! It's great to meet you!"

Taeyoung nods eagerly. "Thanks for stopping by!"

"That's a very good question." Aaron Z leans forward a little bit, resting his arms on his thighs. "It kinda depends on the day for me, sometimes it's Take It All Away-"

"Oh, that is such a good one, that was SO fun to film," Aaron T interrupts, "one thing that Z hates when I bring up is that he's super good at the music video stuff. I swear, he's gotta be lying about what he did before 4*Town."

"What else would I have done?"

"Modelling!"

He sighs. "Okay."

Taeyoung giggles, and leans onto Jesse, who puts an arm around his shoulder. Robaire nods for Aaron Z to continue. "Take It All Away and...?"

"On very rare occasions, super rare occasions, it's Downtown Driveway."

"Oh." Jesse winces.

"Yeah."

Aaron T takes a second, but catches the silence and fills it. "I like Downtown Driveway, it's so energetic."

"It's definitely got a unique sound." Robaire nods. "Not necessarily my taste though."

"Oh!" Aaron T perks up. "One thing about Robaire-"

Jesse chuckles. "You're full of fun facts today."

"-is that he's a sucker for the 80s. If it was up to him, we'd be an 80s Eurodance group and sing songs like Freed From Desire by Gala."

"Freed From Desire is from the 90s, but it's the right style." Robaire teases. "He's not wrong. That's why I love Girl, It's Got To Be U so much. I love the retro sound."

"Retro?" Jesse pinched the bridge of his nose. "Robaire, I was a teenager in the 80s."

"Barely."

Jesse turns back to you. "Personally, I prefer our slower songs, stuff like 1 True Luv and Don't Deceive Me."

"It's cause that's all he writes." Taeyoung laughs. "Let Your Dreams Fly will always be very special to me, I'm so fortunate to have had the opportunity to write it."

Robaire gives him a warm smile. "It's a such a sweet song."

"Like a bird!" Aaron T adds.

"Thanks for the question!" Robaire waves.

[ask-whumptown]

hey guys!!!!! glad to see you all again :]

just something i've been curious about: what would you all say is your personal favorite "eras" or even specific years of being in the band? what was it about that era or year that made it so special? i'd love to hear your experiences from the past! hearing about the band in its infancy or past tours or experiences is so interesting, especially as a fan that's only recently interacted with your stuff!

as always, heart haaands!! love yall mwah

star <3

"Welcome back!" Aaron T. waves when you walk in. "It's good to see you!"

Taeyoung, full of energy today, bounces in his seat a couple times. "The whole No Strings On Us and Cutting Ties era was a blast."

"Oh, for sure." Aaron Z. nods. "1999. One of our best years, easily."

"I just really liked what it meant for us, you know? That tour was incredible."

Robaire explains. "Cutting Ties was our... only? Our world tour. It was huge for us."

Taeyoung taps his knees. "1998 and '99 were good years for me, especially coming out of 1997, it was just... I needed the good. I went skydiving!"

"Because he's insane." Aaron Z. frowns. "Why would anyone willingly jump out of a plane?"

"It was fun! In all honesty though, my favourite memories from Cutting Ties are mostly like, backstage things and... onstage things."

Aaron T. raises a curious brow. "Yeah?"

"Like when you fell onto that security guard in U Know What's Up."

"Okay, in my defense-"

Taeyoung leans over to shush him with a finger. "We have markers on the stage that show how close to the edge we can safely get so we don't fall, but T. takes those as a suggestion."

"It's hard to see the 4*Townies sometimes! I like to get close."

Jesse scoffs. "Only because you like their attention. They eat it up everytime."

"You're one to talk about liking attention." Aaron T. sticks his tongue out. "It can't be a crime to wanna see their faces, can it? I hate when the lights get in my eyes, it can be so disconnecting."

Aaron Z. pretends to check a watch. "We're off topic."

"Right!" Taeyoung clasps his hands together. "Point being, 1999 is probably my favourite year."

"Mine too," Aaron Z. agrees, "so much fun."

"Wait, hold." Aaron T. puts his hands out. "Give me a second."

He twists out of his hoodie, revealing a Cutting Ties tour shirt. "Ta-da!"

"You are not wearing your own merch." Jesse looks like he might pass out. "T."

"What's wrong with our merch, Jesse?" He shoots him a playful glare. "It's for dance practice later."

Robaire laughs. "That's awful."

[ask-whumptown]

Jesse blinks. "Excuse me?"

[ask-whumptown]

happy halloween guys

"Happy Halloween!" Robaire grins.

"Make sure you stay safe tonight." Aaron Z. gives you a warning look. "It can get cold."

Aaron T. throws an arm over Aaron Z.'s shoulder. "But also, have fun!

"Yes!" Taeyoug nods. "And have something sweet for me!"

Jesse laughs. "Thanks for stopping by. Happy Halloween."

[ask-whumptown]

are you guys gonna dress up for halloween? :)

"You bet!" Taeyoung gives an enthusiastic thumbs up. "I wanted to go as the power rangers, but these guys couldn't get their shit together, so we're dressing up as, get this, a boy band."

"Okay, no." Jesse rolls his eyes. "Not just a boy band, we're going as a 1960s vocal group."

"So... a boy band."

"In matching suits," Aaron T. adds, "matching red suits."

"Seriously, we could've been power rangers."

[ask-whumptown]

Hi guys! Blue it's here again, and especially to see T (it's obvious)

How do u know, it's halloween time and i'd like to know if u have any "rituals" or things that u do to celebrate this festivity! Being u I imagine you like Halloween a lot

"Hey Blue!" Aaron T. waves, smiling. "Celebrating Halloween with these guys is a blast."

"It might seem silly, but we all do a lot of baking this time of year," Taeyoung says, "ghost cookies, pumpkin pie, pretty much anything you can think of."

"They're varying degrees of good." Robaire laughs. "But it's a lot of fun."

"We thought about donating some baked goods last year, but most of what we made didn't end up being edible, so that got scraped." Jesse checks his nails.

"Really, this time of year is usually just taken up by Halloween related promotions."

"Haunted house tv specials, group costumes, spooky song covers," Aaron T. lists, "it's different every year."

"T. gets some good pranks in." Taeyoung blinks innocently.

Aaron Z. crosses his arms. "Not funny."

"We always, without fail, watch at least one scary movie." Aaron T. adds.

"Which is always a bad idea, because none of us are... we don't handle horror well." Jesse grabs Robaire's arm, almost out of reflex.

"I can't even tease." Aaron T. shudders. "Because our neighbours came to check on us last night, we were that scared."

Robaire chuckles. "We're still gonna watch another one tonight though."

"Oh, for sure."

[ask-whumptown]

How did all of you find out you could sing? And do you remember the moment when you realized you wanted to perform on stage?

"Hello again!" Taeyoung smiles. "That's a great question. Ro?"

Robaire startles. "Hm?"

"Go first."

He gives Taeyoung a funny look, but starts talking anyway. "I did choir all throughout school, so I've always known I liked singing, but it was getting a solo for the first time that really motivated me to take it further."

"You always struck me as a choir guy actually." Aaron T. muses.

"Funny story actually, my high school's choir competed in a competition in LA."

Aaron Z. sits up. "Oh yeah, I went to see that."

"Which means that technically, Z. and I met first." Robaire smiles, giving him a playful nudge. "If you count very very briefly passing each other outside the venue as meeting."

"I do not." Jesse rolls his eyes. "You didn't talk."

"I have a program from that event somewhere, you can see Robaire listed as one of the soloists."

"So not fair that you got to hear him sing before we all did." Taeyoung crosses his arms, joining Jesse's protest.

Robaire laughs. "You hear enough of me now."

"And it's incredible everytime," Aaron T. says.

"I've always liked performing," Aaron Z. admits, making a point of navigating back to the question, "my parents put me in ballroom as a kid, but I learned a lot of other styles through competitions and groups at school."

"I've seen videos of his old ballroom routines, he was phenomenal," Aaron T. chimes, "he's a completely different person."

"The singing though... I'd never sung in front of anyone before I auditioned."

"And because he's Aaron Z., he was stupid good." Robaire huffs.

He scoffs. "That was a fluke."

"I was a... a bit of an attention seeker as a kid." Taeyoung rubs the back of his neck. "So I was in talent shows and singing lessons, a little bit of dance back in Busan, but I didn't really get a taste for actually performing until I auditioned."

"That's a pretty natural progression." Jesse nods.

"I think so too! I was always looking for somewhere to put the extra energy."

"You and me both." Aaron T. laughs. "I used to hold concerts on the playground, but kids threw rocks at me."

"That's mean." Robaire frowns.

"I wouldn't call that performing though, I'd say my first real dip into singing was when I started busking. I may not have had a permit or anything, but when a cute kid has a deep ass voice, people turn a blind eye to that."

Taeyoung giggles. "I can't imagine seeing like... seventh grade you singing with your now voice."

He grins. "It dropped really fast, and before that I was a really squeaky kid, so it caught everyone off guard."

"You amaze me." Aaron Z. blinks. "Squeaky T... I wish I hadn't missed that."

"No you do not."

Jesse rests an arm on the back of the couch, adjusting to get more comfortable. "I did theatre."

"Yes you did." Robaire has a playful glint to eye.

"I auditioned because I wanted to prove someone wrong, actually, but from the moment I stepped into that first rehearsal... it was like everything was starting to make sense."

Aaron Z. smiles, soft.

"And then I went to art school."

"There it is." Taeyoung snickers.

"That about sums it up, I think?" Robaire scans them. "Choir, busking, ballroom, too much energy, and theatre."

"Thanks for asking!" Aaron T. makes finger guns.

[ask-whumptown]

Hi hi! Jay is back again my lovely 4Town😋

I wanted to know what is something that you’re not so good at but you wish you were good in it and why?

For me I’m not great at drawing, but I wish was because I find art beautiful and it can tell stories just by looking at it and the details you know?

"Hey Jay." Aaron Z. nods to you.

"Good question." Taeyoung ponders, tapping his fingers on the table. "I think maybe... studying. I'm not in school anymore, but you'd be surprised how much studying we still have to do, especially before a tour."

"Oh, yeah." Robaire nods profusely. "We get a lot of homework, things like guidebooks, culture stuff, etiquette, it's important for us to learn about the countries we're visiting so we can be respectful while we're there."

"It's for a great reason! Studying just never clicked for me, I'm awful at it."

Aaron Z. gives Taeyoung a sympathetic pat on the back.

"I'd say basketball." Robaire twirls one of his hoodie strings, innocent. "I'm not super great at it."

It's impossible not to notice the laser-like glare Aaron Z. shoots into the back of Robaire's head.

"Stealing Z.'s thunder?" Jesse watches the two of them, hiding his amusement with mock concern.

He shrugs. "If the shoe fits."

"God, I could think of a new thing to improve on every month," Aaron T. says, "I mean, baking, poetry, knitting... no I'm definitely going with knitting, it would be so cool to know how to knit like, super well."

Jesse blinks. "When did you start knitting?"

"A couple weeks ago, I thought it would be a good survival skill, you know? Making clothes, you all might be wearing some designer knitwear made by yours truly in the near future!"

"You are something else," Robaire says. His smile is fond.

"I'd say that I have a lot to improve on. There's always room to grow," Jesse decides, "so maybe like... everything?"

Aaron T. furrows his brows. "Jess."

He opens his mouth, and closes it again, remaining silent. After a couple moments, Aaron Z. speaks up.

"I want to get better at public speaking."

"Huh?" Taeyoung gapes. "You speak publicly all the time!"

He smiles a little bit. "And how well does that go? It's just something I've gotta work on."

"Fair enough," Robaire says, "mine could probably use some work too."

"Okay, no, I call foul." Jesse crosses his arms. "You are easily the best public speaker in the group."

"Oh one hundred percent." Taeyoung nods.

"It's like Jesse said." Robaire gives Jesse a pointed stare. "There's always room to grow."

Aaron T. chuckles. "Thanks for stopping by again Jay! Always great to see you."

[ask-whumptown]

Would any of you guys ever want to get any piercings or tattoos? Or even dye your hair?

Like, I want to get my eyebrows pierced and my nose pierced but I can’t cause of work. Also I want a belly button piercing. I’m also trying to convince my parents to let me get a tattoo, I keep telling them I’ll pay for it lmaooo. I dye my hair a lot though, I think I’ve done it nine times already? Right now my hair is pink and I just redid it cause it had faded and looked kind of orange

They all think about it for a moment.

"I want matching tattoos," Aaron T. decides, "something that's symbolic of all of us."

Jesse nods. "Me too."

Sheepishly, Robaire smiles just a little bit. "I actually have a tattoo already."

"Wait, are you serious?" Taeyoung sits up. "Where? I haven't seen it."

"It's really small." He points to the space just below his right hip, though he doesn't pull the fabric of his pants down to reveal it. "A friend of mine did it."

"Huh." Jesse scoffs.

"They're not as painful as people make them out to be, but they're definitely not painless either."

"I'm more for piercings, but I'd be down to get matching tattoos," Aaron Z. puts in.

"Me too." Taeyoung nods, and smiles at you. "I'm like you, I have a million different piercings that I want, and tattoos are really taboo in Korea, so I'd have to get one somewhere I could hide it, you know? For when I go see my family."

"I think more piercings would suit you," Aaron T. says.

"I'd be down to dye my hair too, besides just bleaching it."

Jesse toys with his. "I would too, but maybe after letting my natural colour grow back, my hair is fried right now."

"God, mine too." Taeyoung nods. "I've already talked to my stylist about growing it."

Robaire looks between the two of them. "Hm."

"Hm?" Jesse raises a brow. "What are you hming?"

"I just didn't think you'd ever want anything other than a natural colour."

"I could pull off colourful hair."

He raises his hands in surrender. "I didn't say you couldn't! I just thought you wouldn't want to."

"Watch me."

Aaron Z. gives you a look.

"That was a good question!" Aaron T. grins, and wiggles his eyebrows. "Got us thinking, making plans."

[ask-whumptown]

wow, jesse, that's quite the tid bit about you. you probably could've just told me your family is a bit "out there" and i would've gotten the same message.

yea, i found something to eat, thank you for directing me here. i can't say i'll remember, these hallways wind, yea? i'm trying to keep track of the turns as we make our back, to be honest.

well hey, now that we're back with everyone, i do have another question for you guys! are there any places around here, or even around where you grew up, that you'd say have a special place in your heart? any cool stories as to why they're so special! i'd love to know how yalls' hearts grow with your local community or setting :]

When you look closely enough, you can see the satisfaction in the quirk of his lips. "I don't blame you, I still get lost sometimes, and I've been working here for what, four years? If you need help finding anything again, just let me or one of the other guys know."

The "asks" room is alight with laughter when you return, primarily from Aaron T. and Taeyoung. Robaire is coaxing them down off the table, while Aaron Z. watches, amused.

"Oh!" Taeyoung catches sight of the two of you. "You're back!"

"Mhm." Jesse takes a seat next to Aaron Z. on the couch.

They all listen to you.

"There's a park by Z.'s parents house that we used to go to all the time." Taeyoung sits, feet swinging over the edge of the table. "We were at his house a lot around when we debuted."

"Lots of memories there." Jesse nods.

"You could say the same about that whole area," Robaire says, "I probably know it better than my hometown by now."

“We used to go to this old diner too,” Aaron T. adds, “but it’s closed now.”

Taeyoung’s eyes go wide. “It went bankrupt and some mysterious buyer came in, never did anything with it.”

“Yeah,” Jesse says, catching your eye, “it was really weird.” 

“Other than that? Nothing around here, I don’t think.” Aaron Z. loops his arm under Jesse’s. “I know Ro has a lake near his old place though, we all went there once.”

“Sorry, back to the playground for a second, isn’t that where we buried our time capsule?” Aaron T. finally hops off the table, moving to stand next to you. “We put some stuff in there way back in what, ‘97?”

“To be opened in 2007! We’re halfway there.” Taeyoung shimmies.

Robaire blinks. “It’s been five years since ‘97? That doesn’t feel right.”

Aaron T. shrugs. “That’s what I’m saying.”

After a cough from one of the staff members, Taeyoung deflates a little. “That’s time.”

Jesse gives you a warm smile. “Thanks for asking. Sorry to take up so much of today on the snacks, I forgot how much of a walk it was.”

Taeyoung makes a heart with his hands, asking questions with the slight furrow of his brows. “See you next time?”

Jesse and Aaron T. join in, each making their own heart hands with little resistance. Robaire takes a little more convincing.

“Z.?” Taeyoung coaxes, “c’mon.”

He huffs, but gives in, making “help me” eyes at you. “Don’t get used to this.”

“If you ask him, he won’t say no,” Jesse says, “he just hates us.”

“I do not!” He reacts, then shrinks. “Sorry.”

Aaron T. chuckles. “See you around!”

[ask-whumptown]

so are robaires pockets on his vest real pockets? or are they just for deco

- 👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨 anon

A stylist brings in a hung version of Robaire's orange vest. He thanks them, and shows it to you.

The flap at the top of the pocket opens, and reveals that there is space, albeit not very much.

"They're real, but you couldn't put much more than a nickel in there." He laughs. "That's just the most recent version though, most of the older vests don't have real pockets."

[ask-whumptown]

Hello CuteTown! And as usual hi Z! Handsome as always<33

For my question! Are there any nicknames you all have for each other that we don’t know? Or things you call each other in general? Big MWAH 💋 to all of you

Aaron Z. yet again loses his composure, just for a brief moment. "Hey."

"T. calls everyone everything," Jesse says, "I get 'cowboy' from him sometimes."

"Does that count?" Aaron T. fans himself with a pamphlet. "It's just teasing! Besides, Tae calls me 'loverboy' sometimes."

Robaire shifts, almost nervous. "We mostly just use nicknames to call each other in less syllables. I get 'Ro' a lot."

"And T. calls him 'Robbie' too," Taeyoung adds, "mine is easy, I get Tae."

"I'm only ever called 'Jess' if I'm getting teased or talked down to." Jesse rolls his eyes.

Taeyoung pinches his shoulder. "That's cause 'Jesse' is a fun name to say."

"Don't pinch me."

"We get 'T.' and 'Z.'" Aaron T. points to himself and Aaron Z. "But that's not really surprising to anyone."

Aaron Z. nods. "I wasn't a big fan of it at first, but it grew on me. Only when the guys or 4*Townies use it though."

"Exactly."

"Other than those, it really is just T. goofing off." Robaires gives him a fond smile. "He could turn anything into a pet name."

"It has to happen in the moment though." He abandons the pamphlet to cross his arms.

"Yeah, yeah, if you keep an eye out for it, I'm sure it'll happen soon enough."

"Thanks for asking." Aaron Z. nods.

[ask-whumptown]

I'm Blue and i'm in love with Aaron T, that's all i'll say

Aaron T. lights up. "Hey Blue! I'm flattered!"

[ask-whumptown]

OMG CONURES BUT YOU GOTTA PUT COCKATIELS HIGHER ON YOUR LIST THEIR SO SKRONKLY!!! THEY ARE SILLY PIKACHU BIRDS THEY HAVE SILLY HAIR THEIR SO SILLY!!!!!! -cupcake

Taeyoung beams. "Cockatiels! They're such delightful birds!"

[ask-whumptown]

HIIIII EVERYONE SHUT UP (affectionately. sorry. love yall.)

it's robaire's birthday :3 its quite.. later in the day i apologize but happy birthday robaire i hope your day went perfect !!!!!!

Robaire smiles, bashful, and rubs the back of his neck. "Thanks!"

He takes a glance around, then leans closer. His voice carries a certain giddiness. "We went to a fashion show today. It was incredible, and then we went to dinner, just me and the guys. I'd say that's pretty perfect."

[ask-whumptown]

Hello helloo, hope you're all doing well

Anyway, I have no idea if yall have answered this question already but have you guys tried each others hobbies? Like did yall go try pottery with jesse or help tae young with animals, ect ect. If so how was y'all experience with it?

-jenna :>

"Hi Jenna!" Taeyoung waves. "I'm pretty sure we've all tried each other's hobbies? At least the ones that can be done together."

Aaron T. kicks his feet up onto the coffee table. "I still don't know how any of them have time for hobbies."

"They help out with animal rehab sometimes!"

Robaire smiles fondly. "Help is a generous term."

"If Tae was a surgeon, we'd be handing him the tools," Jesse agrees.

"No, no, you all boost morale! I caught Z. singing to a kitten once, it was the sweetest thing."

Aaron Z. shoots him a glare.

"They've all been to my studio," Jesse says, "and tried pottery to... various degrees of success."

"Do you know how nervewracking his studio is?" Aaron T. huffs. "It was so scary, I thought I was gonna break something for sure."

He laughs. "You looked ridiculous the first time you came in."

"I didn't want to touch anything!"

Robaire puts an arm around Aaron Z.'s shoulder. "I beat Z. in a basketball game once."

"Once."

"You claimed it would never happen."

"This." Taeyoung points to the two of them. "Is why we don't play much basketball. They won't stop."

"Thanks for asking, that was a good question!" Aaron T. says.

[ask-whumptown]

T, Z, i feel like you both don’t get appreciated a lot, so I just want you to both know they you two are my favorites 🤭 literally became my favorite members the moment I saw you both. I think it’s cause I can kind of see myself in both of you, personality wise I mean

Anyways I think more people should appreciate you both more. Also does it ever bother either of you guys when you’re constantly grouped together for like promotions and shit rather then seeing you both as two separate people with different personalities and whatever? Cause I feel like it only happens cause you both have the same name but idk 🤷🏻‍♀️

Aaron T. and Aaron Z. share a look.

"That's really sweet of you to say!" Aaron T. breaks into a grin. "I'm glad we're people you can relate to."

Aaron Z. smiles too, though it's more reserved. "It means a lot."

It takes both of them a moment to address the second part, but it's Aaron Z. who starts speaking again.

"Honestly? Half the time we're paired together now, it's by request."

Aaron T. nods. "We're both more comfortable doing shoots when we're with other members, and it just so happens that people like us as a duo! So it works."

"It can get frustrating when people don't see us as separate people, I think that goes for all of us to some extent, but in the end, does it really matter?"

"Exactly, like, I know who I am, I know who Z. is. All the people close to us know who we are as individuals, that's all that matters to me." Aaron T. gives Aaron Z. an affectionate pat on the shoulder. "But it is nice to be understood, you know?"