Assuming I did the right thing...this is without any 'use utf8' or 'utf8::upgrade' magic.
--------------
5.6.1
--------------
SV = PV(0x14045dc) at 0x1409e8c
REFCNT = 1
FLAGS = (PADBUSY,PADMY,POK,pPOK,UTF8)
PV = 0x142d9fc "\302\245"\0
CUR = 2
LEN = 3
--------------
5.8.4
--------------
SV = PV(0x44c3d64) at 0x10590f4
REFCNT = 1
FLAGS = (PADBUSY,PADMY,POK,pPOK)
PV = 0x450ab24 "\245"\0
CUR = 1
LEN = 2
This is after the uft8:upgrade call:
-----------------------
5.8.4 w/utf8::upgrade
-----------------------
SV = PV(0x44f91dc) at 0x104d644
REFCNT = 1
FLAGS = (PADBUSY,PADMY,POK,pPOK,UTF8)
PV = 0x4518aa4 "\302\245"\0 [UTF8 "\x{a5}"]
CUR = 2
LEN = 3