#calip

Is not between Link, Zelda and Mipha. It is these three

Hear me out.

Paya and Tauro are already a fairly popular ship in the fandom, with mild basis in canon (more on that later). What fewer people bring up is Tauro's other not-so-secret admirer: The humble (Dr!) Calip.

This man is known best for two things: being the nuisance stopping us from even just looking in the direction of the floating ring ruin until its quest, and, more relevant here, his nigh obnoxious ego. All he strives for is fame and recognition, yet in the midst of his self-aggrandazing ramblings, he expresses admiration for one man only: Tauro. Here's what he writes in his diary (found next to his bed, in his room that he happens to share with Tauro)

As self-absorbed as Calip is, he deigns Tauro to be worthy of his admiration, meaning he holds Tauro in high regard. However, an unexpected competitor vies for Tauro's attention: enter Paya.

The newly appointed Kakariko chief starts to learn about the Zonai ruins for the sake of her people, and becomes unexpectedly good at it. It is implied that Tauro spends a fair bit of time teaching her and assisting her with research, culminating in Paya learning to read Zonai script. This, well, does not sit well with Calip, as he cannot stand the idea of Tauro's precious praise going to another. Here's an exchange that happens when Link shows them a photo of the Zonai inscriptions inside the floating ring ruins, and Paya deciphers a word that left even Tauro stumbled:

Calip's response: jealousy at Tauro praising another, especially Calip's greatest rival!

So Calip proceeds to promptly put Paya back in her place by instead deducting that the place the script is referring to must be the Zonai Ruins in Faron. When Tauro praises him in turn, Calip exceedingly gloats about this, even attempting to turn the word "fantastic" into a pet phrase between him and his most admired person

Alas, Calip may have lost the race already. For you see, Tauro seems to have set eyes on someone else. This detail is already somewhat known, but when looking above Tauro's bed in Kakariko (and we know it is Tauro's bed because of the extra cushions to compensate for his size), something interesting hangs on the wall

A portrait of Paya.

And we know it is Paya because of the red Sheikah eye, the red ribbons, and even the red eye make-up all matching Paya perfectly.

Now why would Tauro have a picture of Paya, somebody he spent a great deal of time with studying ancient relics they are both passionate about, someone he (by his own words) greatly admires, hanging above his bed? So she may watch over his dreams?

After years spent investigating the mysterious shrines of East Necula, Dr. Calip has joined the Zonai Survey Team’s efforts to study the Ring Ruins of Kakariko Village. The ancient structures are fascinating, but what has captured Calip’s attention is the chasm in the forest on the hill. While Calip has been gazing into the abyss, however, the leader of the Zonai Survey Team has been gazing at him.

(More proof under the cut)