he turns his head so slowly 'round

Triton talks to himself nigh constantly: either nonsense, attempts at recollection, or pure rubbish mumbling - endearing, in a sad sort of way, but also fairly irritating, if you're trying to have polite conversation.

(There's nothing Flora hates more than someone who tacks on late to old information like it's their own new discovery, but she tolerates it, full fondly, from the ol' cap'n, because he's never quite so self-important as all that, is he?)

But sometimes when he's nattering, she's places to be; the only way to answer his indecipherable questions is with an unquestionably adoring kiss on the cheek.