"Well we have managed to make some changes to said design. Changes that were not reverted. It appears as if they are at least open to some level of pushing boundaries and collaborative efforts here." Not too much, clearly. They may not be able to have any significant input or deviations, or control anything that would drastically change whatever is planned in whoever is drawing up the grander scheme of things, but they have been able to at least make the design... a little messier, somewhat. It counts for something.

"Perhaps we need to be a little more subtle about it, if we are to get away with anything." He's probably talking about leaving Mathias, not matters of the heart here. Maybe.