He has two sides to his personality. The open and friendly side, which jokes, talks and is easy going. Usually puts people off cause he's a little too over friendly, though sincere. The other side, is contemplative, quiet and silent and asking questions about the things that happen to people and why they happen.
Michael is engineer in the present day.
But the mundaness of life got to him
He just wanted an escape, and it seemed that Manera was all to eager to grant it.