Tape Roll Suspension

I noticed an upright roll of striped paper washi tape sitting on the polished birch side table, anchored down by a heavy steel fountain pen resting across its hollow center. The metal barrel had tilted sideways by fifteen degrees, lifting the tape roll slightly off the wood grain. I approached the edge, braced my feet squarely on the tabletop, and slid my shoulder beneath the heavy brass clip of the pen. Shifting my mass forward, I levered the pen straight across the circular opening until its center of balance intersected the roll's midpoint. The tape dropped flat with a solid, dry knock. The pen rests horizontally now, securely locking the roll against any drift.