James P. Bluford

* Demon Form
* Human Form

> *“Hey there. I'm Bluford. I... uh... I need help. I heard you can rehabilitate sinners. I was hoping you can... redeem me."*
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> ―Bluford on meeting Charlie Morningstar when he arrived at the Hotel.
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**James Paul Bluford**, also known as **James P. Bluford**, **Bluford the Hyena Demon**, or just simply **Bluford**, is a Sinner Hyena Demon in Hell. He is a voice actor, singer, guitar player, and former band member of a fictional band, Boneseller, when he was a human on Earth. He was also a former boyfriend of lead singer Lacuna Lynn. In Hell, Bluford is currently a patron of the Hazbin Hotel, wanting to redeem himself for his past actions as a human and being one of the few sinners who supports Charlie's idea of redemption for sinners.

Bluford is the "hellsona" for a YouTuber named Bobby Gulley, also known by his username, Voice Actor Bobby G. Bluford would often appear in any Hazbin roleplay that involves Bobby with his friends, especially with his girlfriend Olwyn McKeon, and his best friend, Red Rose.

## Appearance

As a human, Bluford appears as a young man with brown eyes, fedora hat, brown hair, a brown goatee and beard, a grey jacket, white shirt, and dark blue jeans. As a hyena demon, he resembles a hyena with blue fur, dark blue spots, light yellow teeth, black and red eyes, and the same clothes as his human counterpart.

## Personality

Bluford is crazy, silly, funny, sweet, and kind. His kind-hearted nature is considered weak by other demons. Despite this, he does grow to become more protective, courageous, and aggressive later in his life. Despite this, he does have major flaws, such as his drug addiction, and sometimes, his lustful nature. Once he died, he becomes very remorseful for his actions and wants to redeem himself, which is why he joined the Hazbin Hotel.

## History

Bluford was born on August 16, 1996. Not much is known of his backstory, mostly because Bluford hates talking about his past life. What is known, is that Bluford lived with a poor family and that his life was said to be awful and tragic. Because of this, it led to him to become dependent on drugs. He briefly was a stand-up comedian, before he became a lead guitarist in a rock band called Boneseller to escape his troubles at home, but he was eventually fired from the band by his former girlfriend and lead singer, Lacuna Lynn, due to his drug addiction. He eventually died from a drug overdose and went to hell. Ashamed for his past actions, he wants to redeem himself, and thus he stays at the Hazbin Hotel, being one of the only sinners in the hotel who wants to be redeemed.

## Affiliations

### **Charlie Morningstar**

Bluford and Charlie become good friends when he enters the hotel for the first time to stay. He was one of the only sinners of hell who wanted to be redeemed and Charlie used Bluford as a mascot of the hotel, showing that some sinners do in fact want to be redeemed. However, this caused the other denizens of hell to mock Bluford for this, which she regrets. Bluford comforts her and they made up for it. They continued to be friends since.

### **Vaggie**

Bluford and Vaggie have a pretty good relationship overall. Despite Vaggie's distrust in men, she does trust and care for Bluford due to his kind-hearted and sweet nature.

### **Alastor**

Alastor and Bluford have an uneasy relationship. Bluford is usually terrified of Alastor, while Alastor usually mocked Bluford for his weaknesses, which displeases Charlie.

### **Angel Dust**

Angel Dust would often flirt with Bluford, which makes Bluford flustered at times, but since Bluford is heterosexual, Angel retracts from his flirting, but they do respect each other and become good friends since.

### **Niffty**

Bluford and Niffty don't interact often, but they are shown to be friendly towards each other and she would often clean his room in the hotel.

### **Husk**

Bluford and Husk don't interact much, but they are neutral towards each other overall. Bluford does not drink, which is why he does not show up at Husk's bar in the hotel very often.

### **Sir Pentious**

Bluford and Sir Pentious don't interact much, but they do have a neutral relationship overall. He supports Charlie in Sir Pentious staying at the hotel.

### **Lacuna Lynn**

Lacuna Lynn is the former girlfriend of James P. Bluford. She is the lead singer of the fictional rock band, Boneseller, and Bluford was the lead guitarist and co-singer of the band as well. Before Bluford joined the band, he and his high school friend Andrew Samson, watched Lacuna sing on stage in school. Bluford fell in love with her and he tries to win her affection, but it usually does not go as he hoped. Finally, after the first lead guitarist left, Bluford performs with the band and shows off his amazing guitar skills, which impressed Lacuna. Lacuna and Bluford began dating. However, she eventually found out about his drug addiction, and she fired him from the band and broke up with him. This hurt Bluford badly and he eventually overdosed on drugs and he went to hell. It is unknown what happened to Lacuna after this, but Bluford would often think about Lacuna and that he was remorseful for his actions that caused her to break up with him. During dating Bluford, Lacuna would often call Bluford by a cute nickname, "Jay Jay", after his first name, James. Lacuna is an original character created by Bobby Gulley. Her name is inspired by the real life band, Lacuna Coil.

### **Sabrina**

Samantha Powell, later renamed Sabrina in Hell, is a pink fox demon and Bluford's best friend in Hell and the original character created by Red Rose, one of Bobby's best friends. Rose and Bobby would usually roleplay as these characters in their Hazbin roleplay on Pony Town. In the roleplay, Sabrina is one of the few sinners in Hell who befriends Bluford when she herself joins the Hazbin Hotel. Her design is inspired by Niquie from Zoophobia, with a few differences.

### **Aya**

Anaya McRoland, better known by her nickname Aya, is a panther demon assassin and a close friend of Alastor. She befriends Bluford and becomes his mentor, teaching him how to survive in Hell and to stand up against any who would pick on him. Aya is an original character created by Olwyn McKeon, Bobby's girlfriend. They would roleplay as these characters in their own Hazbin roleplay on Discord.

### Renee Wixx

Renee Wixx is a dalmation demon who is the best friend of Sabrina, but their friendship has went downhill once and they were briefly enemies. She appeared as an antagonist turned supporting character in the Pony Town roleplay between Bobby and Red Rose. Renee would often flirt with Bluford, which gets him embarrassed or flustered. However, he learned of the history between Sabrina and Renee and he grew to dislike her. Renee and Sabrina would eventually make up and become friends again, and Bluford makes up with Renee as well. Renee is a original character created by Red Rose.

### **Andrew Samson**

Andrew Samson is Bluford's best friend on Earth. They first met in high school and they become good friends since, always being there to stand up for Bluford whenever he gets bullied by his former girlfriend Makeena and her friends. He also helped Bluford join the band, Boneseller, and he helped him hook up with lead singer, Lacuna Lynn. He found out about his drug addiction after he was fired from the band, and unlike Bluford's parents and Lacuna, he actually tried to comfort him, but Bluford was already extremely upset and he eventually overdosed on drugs, which hurts Andrew a lot. It is unknown what happened to Andrew after this. Andrew is an original character created by Bobby Gulley.

### **Taylor Hazel**

Taylor Hazel is a friend to Bluford and Andrew in high school. She was a miniature girl who was often teased and bullied by Makeena and her friends, and Andrew and Bluford would often defend Taylor. Bluford used to have a crush on Taylor and he asked her out. But Taylor revealed that she is a lesbian and is not into boys, which upsets Bluford. However, he and Taylor came to respect each other and they continued to be friends. However, once Bluford and Andrew graduated, they never saw Taylor again, nor did they know what happened to her. Taylor is an original character created by Bobby Gulley.

### **Makeena Fordyce**

Makeena is a typical rude popular girl in school who would often tease and torment those beneath her, especially Taylor Hazel and James P. Bluford. She was also the former girlfriend of Andrew Samson, but he broke up with her. Makeena is an original character created by Bobby Gulley.

### **The Three V's**

Bluford was originally fearful of the Three V's. But with the help of his friends, he overcame his fear and stands up against them if they ever threaten him or his friends. He usually interacts with Velvette the most out of the three, as she teased and bullied him, similar to what Makeena did to him back on Earth. This caused Bluford to attack her, which leads to the Three V's putting a price on his head in Hell. They became the archenemies of Bluford in Hell.

### **Katie Killjoy and Tom Trench**

Bluford never physically interacted with Katie and Tom, but after Charlie made Bluford the mascot of the Hotel, they mock and scorn him, much to the dismay of Bluford.

### Janie and Eugene

Janie and Eugene are parents of Bluford. Janie is shown to be an alcoholic while Eugene is a overstressed and short-tempered man. They were once good parents to their kids, including Bluford, but the struggles of life caused them, especially Janie, to become more neglectful towards Bluford and his sisters. While they are not abusive towards Bluford, he would often hear or see them fight and clash with each other, and this stressed Bluford out to the point he becomes addicted to drugs and eventually overdose and die from it. After Bluford has died, Janie and Eugene were devastated and become remorseful. Janie eventually died from alcoholism while Eugene commits suicide. In the Pony Town roleplay between Bobby and Red Rose, they eventually reunited with Bluford and he made up with both of them, after they both apologized for their actions. They are original characters created by Bobby Gulley.

### Danielle and Layla

Danielle and Layla are two sisters of Bluford who went on to pursue their own lives, escaping the troubles of their parents. Bluford was the only one who stayed with his parents and they weren't there to console or comfort Bluford whenever he is stressed. It was his best friend Andrew and in some cases, Lacuna, who consoled and comfort him whenever he is down. It is yet unknown what happened to Danielle and Layla since Bluford's death, nor are their reactions to his death were shown. They are original characters created by Bobby Gulley.

## Trivia

* Bluford was created by Bobby Gulley in a Hazbin Hotel roleplay between him and his best friend Red Rose as his hellsona, and Rose helped him design and name him.
* Bluford would often appear in Bobby's Hazbin Hotel roleplays.
* Bluford was made into a hyena demon because hyenas are Bobby's favorite animals.
* Bluford's design overall is based on Bobby's real life appearance, while his hyena features are loosely based on Janja from The Lion Guard.
* Bluford's design is also loosely inspired on the minor blue fox that appears in Vivziepop's "Die Young" music video.
* Bluford's fictional band on Earth, Boneseller, is inspired by a real life former local rock band with the same name, which Bobby's father was a former band member of.
* Bluford's first name, James, is Bobby's middle name in real life.