[action]
[Bars are great for surveillance and recon. Always tons of people milling about to blend in with, and people never think twice about a guy who's hanging out for a stretch of time. Not to mention liquor lowers inhibitions and gives a good taste of what's underneath the social conventions.]
[Plus, lots of easily improvised weapons. Michael's rather hoping to avoid unpleasantness, but as it tends to find him that's always a consideration.]
[He scoots into a seat at the bar and orders a beer, then lifts his glass in the general direction of -- not exactly at -- the guy sitting close by.] Here's to prisons that serve booze. [He's still a little banged up -- healing head wound, bruise on his left arm. All the apparent reason in the world to drink.]