Update to
>>38725046 : I am no longer dying. A little itchy, but all else is well.
>>38726367Depends on the area. Know what's in the area. Can't stress that enough.
Most pokemon (especially those in an area around human civilization) will probably understand your mannerisms, and hell - even further into the wild, plenty of pokemon will understand nonaggressive behaviors and not bother you.
HOWEVER. "Probably" and "plenty" are the key words. Know what's in the area and know what deescalating body language/sounds to make in the event you run into something territorial or aggressive.
For befriending them, that answer also varies. I've heard you can just crouch down and talk to an eevee and it'll approach. On the contrary, I've heard wooper are super skittish.
I'm no professor, but if you think of a specific 'mon you're trying to get to know, I'll wrack my brain for anecdotal evidence.
Best advice: Be slow, be gentle, be quiet, and be kind. And, depending on what you find, know when not to be.
