"Kinda," replies Sookie with that same small smile on her lips, as well as relief that she dares not express. All things considered, the island should certainly be a place that tolerates differences like her own, people having been capable of so much in their respective worlds, but there's really no way to force any single person to understand. But Mathias clearly tries, and by the looks of it, succeeds. "It was really a matter of calming myself down and narrowing my awareness, I guess? I couldn't control it as a kid, but eventually it's like willfully ignore someone who's yapping by your side. Gets harder the louder their thoughts are, but if I wasn't too tired, I could usually manage."

With a mischievous raise of her brow, and a quick glance in Sam's direction, she adds in a softer tone, "Although sometimes I totally used it to my advantage. Like spelling bees, when I was a kid? Easiest thing ever."