Characters / Touch (2017)

These are the characters from Touch by Rhythm

Main Characters

James Toranaga

The protagonist. James is twelve years old, described as small for his age, having an almond shaped face and black curls - and who also happens to be the scion of one of the most powerful magical families on earth. He can control air, wind, thunder and shapeshift into storm clouds.

• Badass Adorable: Twelve years old and noted to be small for his age. Spends most of his time playing with his sister, getting in fights about anime with Casper and playing a Magic: The Gathering Expy with his friends. The Father thinks he's cute. He's also one of the most powerful mages in New York (and possibly the world).
• Bad Liar: People see right through him.
• Blow You Away: Has control over wind and air, along with being able to fly and transform into an elemental body of air, which gives him power over clouds.
• But Not Too Foreign: James and his sister Bex are half Caucasian, half Japanese.
• Flight: His first manifestation of his powers. He enjoys flying a lot.
• Luminescent Blush: Every time Caleb takes off his shirt and James sees his abs.
• Paralyzing Fear of Sexuality: James' views about sex are understandably negative after being raped. In the first chapter he specifically says that he never wants to have sex again, and when Caspar notices him feeling infatuated he gets angry, saying that sexual thoughts are "gross."
  • In a meditation scene in arc 6, he reflects on why he's "scared of liking guys" and determines that it's because "butt stuff" will always hurt. When his inner self remarks that grownups like it, he says that he'll never ask anyone how it can feel good, to which his inner self agrees.
• Rape as Backstory: Poor James is assaulted in a bathroom, severely damaging him emotionally. The very first chapter of the story is a transcription of a therapy session, in which James is too scared of an adult to even accept a soda can from the therapist's hands.
• Shapeshifting Excludes Clothing: James's cloud form does not come with his clothing, much to his chagrin.
• Traumatic Superpower Awakening: How most people manifest their powers. James's comes from a Flashback Nightmare after he tries sleeping in his own bed, instead of in the safety of his parents' room.
• Virginity Flag: The Mark of Purity manifests on his face after being raped. He spends most of the story covering it with cosmetic patches and makeup.

Casper Sullivan

A pale, sandy-haired, freckly boy from the year above James. He can sense the emotions of others and acts as a sort of Deuteragonist for the story.

• A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read: At times he finds himself overwhelmed by the emotions of others. His only defense is to find a corner away from as many people as possible wedging himself into it.
• The Empath: His main power, allowing him to sense the emotions of others. He's not always happy about this.
• Geek: He likes anime, video games and making elaborate jokes with James.
• Power Incontinence: He can reduce the scope of his powers to a small bubble around him, but he can never turn it off, no matter how much he wants to.
• Traumatic Superpower Awakening: His father broke his arm in one of his many beatings, which manifested Casper's abilities.

Tasha

A teenage girl with Super-Strength who makes a living by stealing. Also an old friend of Casper's.

• Action Girl The only girl of the main party, and (at least at the beginning) the most combat-skilled.
• Attack! Attack! Attack! Her main strategy against every foe she encounters. Most of the time, it works.
• Big Sister Instinct Toward Casper and James. She forbids the boys to put themselves in danger to help her, and will beat the crap out of anyone who tries to harm them.
• Badass in Distress She gets captured by the family and needs to be rescued by James. Twice.
• Karmic Thief Used to survive as a regular thief. Casper convinced her to only steal from bad guys.
• Super-Strength Her innate power, which she uses a lot.
• Super-Toughness A Required Secondary Powers to support her Super-Strength. Also quite handy in a fight.